Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States.  Time is critical for a heart attack patient, and the highest quality care can increase the chance of survival with fewer complications.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is interrupted. This deprives the heart muscle of oxygen, causing tissue damage or tissue death.

Central Florida Regional Hospital is the only hospital in Seminole and West Volusia Counties that offers award-winning complete cardiovascular services— from diagnostic testing to open-heart surgery to rehabilitation.

The Heart Institute has a dedicated staff, including cardiovascular surgeons who have performed more open-heart procedures than any group in Central Florida, along with the most modern cardiac technology. 

On November 16, Central Florida Regional Hospital was recognized for its success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients when we received the American College of Cardiology Foundation’s NCDR ACTION Registry-GTWG Gold Performance Achievement Award for 2009.

Connie Shaw, RN, Director of The Heart Institute, and Jean Opsut, RN, Quality Management Director, at Central Florida Regional Hospital accept the Action Registry – GWTG Gold Performance Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Heart Association.

Central Florida Regional Hospital is one of only 121 hospitals nationwide to receive the award, having reached an aggressive goal of treating coronary artery disease patients with 85 percent compliance to core standard levels of care outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

The award recognizes Central Florida Regional consistently followed national treatment guidelines for 24 consecutive months, including the aggressive use of medications like cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin and anticoagulants in the hospital—all critical steps in saving the lives and improving outcomes of heart attack patients.

“We are very proud to receive this recognition for our cardiac program,” said Central Florida Regional Hospital CEO Wendy Brandon. “Our physicians and staff are continually focused on delivering the highest quality cardiovascular care to our patients.” 

For more information about Central Florida Regional Hospital’s Heart Institute, visit our website at www.CentralFloridaRegional.com or call (407) 302-7363.