Heart Care

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a priority area for quality measurement due to its prevalence. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and is the primary disease category for hospital admissions.

One in five adults in the United States has some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The most common types of CVD are high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure and rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease. Annually, 900,000 people are diagnosed with AMI and approximately 225,000 cases result in death.

Certain treatments can reduce the probability of further heart complications or death for CVD patients. For example, early treatment with aspirin, ACE inhibitor and beta blocker medications for heart attack patients has been proven to prevent clotting, restore blood flow to the heart, and prevent additional damage to the heart muscle. Aspirin, ACE inhibitor and beta blocker medications also can reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications and should be considered for all eligible heart patients when they leave the hospital.

National Voluntary Measures
Quality measures related to heart care are among the 10 initial measures that are part of a national voluntary effort for U.S. hospitals to share quality information. Click here for more information on Mercy's participation in this important initiative.

Heart Care Programs Across Mercy
Mercy has heart care programs in hospitals across our System. Click on the links below to learn more about heart care in your area.

• Oklahoma Heart Hospital, Oklahoma City, OK


• St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, MO


• St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center, Hot Springs, AR
  
• St. Mary’s Hospital, Rogers, AR


• St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis, MO
  and the new Heart Hospital opening in 2006