Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest, McHenry and Huntley Hospitals among Nation’s Top Performing Hospitals for Treatment of Heart Attack Patients

LAKE FOREST, MCHENRY and HUNTLEY ILLINOIS--Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest, McHenry and Huntley Hospitals were recently selected as 1 of 240 hospitals nationwide to receive the National Cardiovascular Data Registry’s 2022 Chest Pain - MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award. The award is given to recognize the commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

To receive this recognition, hospitals must demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain  ̶   MI Registry for two consecutive years (2020 and 2021), and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry engages hospitals in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients. This is the third year that Huntley Hospital has received this award, and the fourth year for McHenry Hospital and Lake Forest Hospital.

The expansion of the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute in McHenry County continues to evolve, providing patients who need advanced cardiac care with more convenient locations. Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital recently achieved a milestone with the completion of the 100^th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements (TAVR). With TAVR, a narrowed aortic valve is replaced using a catheter-based technique instead of open-heart surgery.

In addition to the TAVR milestone, Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Huntley Hospital successfully implanted the first CardioMEMS device, marking its continued commitment to expanding the cardiac program in McHenry County. A CardioMEMS is a monitoring device that is deployed in the pulmonary artery, allowing non-invasive monitoring of pulmonary artery pressures, which helps to guide medical therapy in patients with heart failure.

Lake Forest Hospital now utilizes a novel technology,  called Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy, which is used as adjunctive therapy to implanting stents in heavily calcified vessels. This therapy allows for optimal revascularization of calcified coronary arteries by ultrasonically breaking up calcium deposits before stent implantation in the artery making these procedures safer and more successful.

“The Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Lake Forest, Huntley and McHenry Hospitals are pleased to be recognized with the National Cardiovascular Data Registry’s 2022 Chest Pain - MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award,” said Ian Cohen MD, FACC, FSCAI, Charles and Barbara Strang Medical Director Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute for Lake Forest, McHenry and Huntley hospitals. “We continue to provide the highest quality of care by offering new and innovative cardiovascular procedures in convenient settings close to home for our  patients.”

About Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute

Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute is a nationally recognized destination for those requiring highly specialized cardiovascular care. Our cardiovascular physicians and staff are committed to providing outstanding, comprehensive care for the cardiac and vascular patient.

U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked the cardiovascular program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital as the top Cardiology & Heart Surgery program in Illinois and among the top in the country.

Six niche centers within Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute offer patient focused, specialized care, making Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute a leading destination for both initial diagnoses and second opinions. These niche programs include physicians, nurses and a range of multidisciplinary specialists working with patients to navigate the complex health care system, ensuring continuity of care and a seamless shift from inpatient to outpatient services and ultimately home.

To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit http://news.nm.org/about-northwestern-medicine.html.

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