AHA Lauds URMC Cardiovascular, Heart Failure, Stroke Programs

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has once again honored Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester Medical Center with a Triple Performance Achievement Award for meeting its highest standards for coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke care.

Strong Memorial is the only Rochester area hospital to receive this honor, and the only Rochester area hospital to receive any level of American Heart Association recognition for its coronary artery disease and heart failure care. Only 33 hospitals in the U.S. are recognized this year with the Triple Performance Achievement Award. URMC’s Highland Hospital received the Silver Performance Award for its outstanding stroke care.

The list of Triple Performance Achievement Award honorees will be published in August in the “America’s Best Hospitals” issue of U.S. News & World Report.

Strong Memorial excelled in the three program modules of the AHA/ASA Get With the Guidelines (GWTG) program – coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke care – earning a Gold Sustained Performance Award for each to recognize three years or more of adherence to all measures of AHA/ASA performance standards.

“As the region’s leader in patient care, research and training, we strive every day to further advance care for our heart patients,” said Charles J. Lowenstein, M.D., chief of the Division of Cardiology and director of the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute. “The Triple Performance Achievement Award underscores our success in meeting the most up-to-date AHA/ASA guidelines and recommendations.”

Curtis G. Benesch, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor in the departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery and director of the Strong Stroke Center, acknowledged the commitment of his multidisciplinary stroke team as a significant factor in the consistent advancement of acute stroke care at URMC.

“Our team strives each and every day to provide the most comprehensive, cutting-edge care for patients from across upstate New York,” Benesch said. “This award recognizes our commitment to continue advancing acute stroke care and improving stroke prevention.”