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The American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines program

Lynn A Smaha1,

  • 1Guthrie Clinic, Sayre, Pa 18840, USA. lsmaha@clinic.guthrie.org

American Heart Journal
|October 30, 2004
PubMed

Insights

The Get With The Guidelines initiative improves cardiac and stroke care using evidence-based guidelines. This program helps healthcare providers consistently treat patients, reducing death and disability from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

  • The American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA) established Get With The Guidelines (GWTG).
  • Cardiovascular diseases and stroke remain leading causes of death and disability.
  • There is a need for standardized, evidence-based care protocols in hospitals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To implement a hospital-based quality improvement initiative for cardiac and stroke patient care.
  • To align clinical practice with established guidelines for secondary prevention.
  • To reduce mortality and morbidity associated with cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines.
  • Implementing a systematic approach to patient care in hospital settings.
  • Focusing on evidence-based protocols for secondary prevention.

Main Results:

  • Facilitates consistent application of guideline-recommended care.
  • Aims to improve patient outcomes by reducing death and disability.
  • Supports healthcare providers in adhering to best practices for cardiovascular and stroke patients.

Conclusions:

  • Get With The Guidelines is an effective quality improvement program.
  • The initiative promotes adherence to evidence-based guidelines for cardiovascular and stroke care.
  • It plays a crucial role in achieving the AHA's mission to reduce cardiovascular death and disability.

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