Improving outcomes for acute coronary syndrome patients in the hospital setting: successful implementation of the American Heart Association "Get With The Guidelines" program by Phase I cardiac rehabilitation nurses.
A treatment gap exists between published guidelines for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and application of these guidelines in clinical practice. The "Get With The Guidelines" program is a quality initiative developed by the American Heart Association to help acute care providers bridge this gap, thereby decreasing morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. This article describes how cardiac rehabilitation nurses successfully implemented the program using a prospective case-management model in the acute care setting. An overview of the program including purpose, benefits, tools, and resources is provided along with start-up considerations, potential barriers, training needs, and keys to success.
Flynn
Frances M
FM
Critical Care Division, Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL 60453, USA. fran.flynn@advocatehealth.com
Cafarelli
Mary
M
Petrakos
Karen
K
Christophersen
Patricia
P
D019090:Case Management; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000451:nursing*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care