Holy Cross Health Recognized by American Heart Association and American Stroke Association

For the 10th consecutive year, Holy Cross Health has been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for the most up to date evidence-based treatment guidelines to improve patient care and outcomes in the communities served.

Holy Cross Health achieved the Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Target: Stroke Advanced Therapy Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition in the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke® program.

“The consistent recognition we have received is a credit to the entire Holy Cross Health team, our physicians, nurses, staff and leadership who are a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities,” said Holy Cross Health President and CEO Mark Doyle. “The Get With The Guidelines program is integral to the highest quality of care we bring to our patients.”

Stroke Care 
The 557-bed, non-profit, teaching hospital in Fort Lauderdale earned the Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Stroke Advanced Therapy Honor Roll by meeting specific quality achievement measures for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.

The Holy Cross Health AHCA (Agency for Health Care Administration) Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center is also distinguished by The Joint Commission (TJC) as a Primary Stroke Center. According to TJC, its Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers "recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care." It signifies that the services we provide "have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes" and that our quality of care "is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of stroke patients."

Diabetes 
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and a major cause of heart attacks, strokes and disability for those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Holy Cross Health also received Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition for ensuring patients with type 2 diabetes receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized with CVD or stroke.

Holy Cross Health is a recognized provider of the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program, which can help people make achievable and realistic lifestyle changes to cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58 percent. The free online portal, Holy Cross's My Body My Health, provides trained lifestyle coaches, video lessons, easy food and activity tracking, 24/7 digital access, and an online community to build support among participants.

Without diagnosis and proper interventions, pre-diabetes can easily develop into type 2 diabetes, increasing a patient’s risk of serious health conditions such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, and amputations of limbs. In many cases, diabetes can be prevented or delayed with weight loss, healthy eating, and exercise. Approximately 84 million American adults are prediabetic, a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Of those with prediabetes, 90% don’t know they have it.