Percent of Heart Attack Patients Given Aspirin at Discharge
Why Is This Important?
Smoking causes arteries to thicken and blood vessels to narrow. Fat and plaque stick to the walls of the arteries, which makes it harder for blood to flow. Reduced blood flow to the heart may result in chest pain, high blood pressure and an increased heart rate. Smoking is also linked to lung disease and cancer, and can cause premature death. Quitting may help prevent another heart attack.
About This Graph
Because smoking increases risk for developing blood clots and heart disease that can result in a heart attack, heart failure or stroke, health care providers are dedicated to counseling patients on quitting. This measure indicates how often heart attack patients are counseled during their care at HealthAlliance Hospital compared with other hospitals in Massachusetts and the United States. Higher percentages indicate better care. (Graph data: October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011.)
How Are We Doing?
Through the efforts of multiple members of our health care teams, we have consistently been able to maintain 100 percent for this goal.