Both of Redeemer Health’s skilled nursing facilities earned the Heart Failure Certification by the American Heart Association. The certification provides an evidence-based framework for evaluating skilled nursing facilities like St. Joseph Manor and The Lafayette against the American Heart Association’s rigorous science-based requirements for heart failure (HF) patients, including program management, patient and caregiver education and support, care coordination, clinical management and quality improvement.

Nearly one in four HF patients are readmitted within 30 days of discharge and approximately half are readmitted within six months. About one quarter of readmissions may be preventable. This certification can support facilities’ efforts to stop preventable readmissions, according to the association.

"Heart failure patients need high-quality care after leaving the hospital, following evidence-based guidelines and giving them the best chance to improve their health,” said Colleen Lawson, Associate Vice President and NHA at The Lafayette.

"We want to be trailblazers, and continue to use innovative methods to give our heart failure patients the best care. The American Heart Association has armed us with additional tools and recognized our commitment. It is an honor to have our processes and efforts recognized in this way," added D. Freeman, Vice President and Administrator at St. Joseph Manor.

To be eligible for this certification, skilled nursing facilities must be in the U.S. or a U.S. territory and implement an HF program that uses a standardized method of delivering clinical care based on current evidence-based guidelines. Learn more about this certification and others at www.Heart.org/CertifiedCare.