The Women’s Choice Award Names Hospitals of Community Healthcare System Among America’s Best for Heart Care

WCA_HeartCare_2017When it comes to making women and their health concerns a top priority, the hospitals of Community Healthcare System continue to be recognized as leaders in quality care. Community Hospital, Munster; St. Catherine Hospital, East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center, Hobart have been named among America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care by the Women’s Choice Award®. The award signifies that these Northwest Indiana hospitals are positioned in the top 9 percent of 4,789 U.S. hospitals offering heart care services.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year - approximately one woman every minute. What is often thought of as a “man’s disease” strikes more women than men, and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined.

“With such strong prevalence of heart disease, every woman should know where to find the very best heart care before she ever has an incident,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of The Women’s Choice Award. “We help women by conducting evidence-based research and recognizing the hospitals that could one day save their lives.”

The hospitals of Community Healthcare System operate one of the largest cardiovascular programs in Northwest Indiana, offering a high level of expertise in performing diagnostic testing, cardiac and peripheral interventions, open heart and valve surgeries, cardiac rehabilitation, heart failure management and disease prevention.

The methodology used to select Community Hospital, St. Catherine Hospital and St. Mary Medical Center among America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care is unique in that it evaluates:

  • The number of cardiac/vascular services offered. Recognized hospitals must offer at least six of the following services: Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Cardiac Surgery, Carotid Stenting, Coronary Interventions, Electrophysiology, Vascular Interventions, Vascular Surgery and Coronary Intensive Care (CCU)
  • 30-Day mortality and readmission rates for heart attack and failure
  • Patient recommendation ratings on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey
  • Primary research about women’s healthcare preferences

“This most recent award from Women’s Choice for excellence in heart care further affirms that through all aspects of heart health, our physicians, specialists, clinical staff and nurses remain consistent in delivering high quality care to residents, particularly, the women of our community,” said Lou Molina, CEO, Community Hospital.

Community Hospital, St. Catherine Hospital and St. Mary Medical Center have earned national accreditation as Chest Pain Centers. Heart attack patients are treated and stabilized from the first point of contact when the chances of recovering are greatest.

“As the number 1 killer of the women in our communities, heart disease is one fight we continue to battle on a daily basis at our hospitals,” said Jo Ann Birdzell, CEO, St. Catherine Hospital. “This distinction demonstrates that we are on the right track – the women of our communities deserve the very best.”

According to the results of the most recent health needs assessment heart disease prevention and awareness are an ongoing concern. Residents are looking to the hospitals of Community Healthcare System to increase education and monitoring of chronic disease patients to cut down on the incidence of heart disease and stroke.

“We strive to identify heart disease from its earliest stages so the condition can be prevented or more effectively managed,” said Janice Ryba, CEO, St. Mary Medical Center. "When we identify someone at risk or diagnosed with one of these chronic conditions, our focus becomes keeping them healthy in their home environments. Through screenings, research and community education programs, we are working with individuals and families to promote lifestyle choices that lower the risk of developing heart and vascular disease.”

For more information about specialized women’s care and the programs and services offered by the hospitals of Community Healthcare System, visit www.comhs.org.

For more information about the 2017 America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care, please visit https://www.womenschoiceaward.com/awarded/healthcare/