St. Vincent’s Medical Center was recently selected as one of 35 hospitals nationally to participate in the American College of Cardiology patient navigator program, billed as the first of its kind in cardiology.
The program is designed to support hospitals in providing personalized services to heart patients and help them avoid quick returns to the hospital.
St. Vincent’s was selected from among nearly 400 hospitals that were eligible for the program. Criteria included readmission rates; having recognized leaders in cardiology on staff; an established culture of quality already part of the hospital infrastructure; and varied geographic location, the hospital reported in a statement.
“This distinguished honor is a testament to the outstanding work and dedication of our professionals who deliver person-centered care every day in order to improve the cardiovascular health and well-being of all of our patients,” said Lawrence S. Schek, senior vice president, chief medical officer and chairman of cardiovascular services at St. Vincent’s, in a statement. “We are grateful for the important work of the American College of Cardiology and wish to thank them for this opportunity to be a part of their patient navigator initiative.”
Nearly one in five patients hospitalized with a heart attack and one in four patients hospitalized with heart failure are readmitted within 30 days of discharge, often for conditions seemingly unrelated to the original diagnosis, the statement said.
“The ACC created the patient navigator program to support a team of caregivers at selected hospitals to help patients overcome challenges during their hospital stay and in the weeks following discharge when they are most vulnerable,” the hospital reported. The program will provide an unspecified amount of funding “to establish a program that supports a culture of patient-centered care that can serve as a model for other hospitals in the future.”
