Orange Park Medical Center earns top recognition for heart care

For the fifth year in a row, Orange Park Medical Center earns numerous American Heart Association and American Stroke Association's Get with the Guidelines Recognition Awards. The awards recognize high performance in treatment for stroke, heart failure, resuscitation, and atrial fibrillation (A-Fib). To qualify for these awards a medical facility must meet quality standards developed by the American Heart Association. Earning these recognitions demonstrates Orange Park Medical Center's commitment to providing quick and quality treatment.

“Studies show that patients have the best possible outcomes when they receive cardiac care at a facility that consistently follows the American Heart Association's guidelines,” said Dr. Ibrahim Fahdi, Cardiologist and cardiology fellowship program faculty member at Orange Park Medical Center. “Earning these recognitions, particularly during a time of challenges brought on by the pandemic, showcases our team's commitment to high-quality cardiac care.”

According to the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds. Orange Park Medical Center's stroke response time averages 25 minutes, that's 35 minutes faster than the national goal. The time measures the minutes between the moment a patient enters the hospital to the time it takes the team to administer tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a treatment used to break down the blood clot that is causing the stroke.

Earlier this year, Orange Park Medical Center announced a $34 million multi-phase expansion that includes 48 private patient rooms and the addition of a 20-bed intensive care unit, adding to its existing 28 ICU beds. Last year the hospital cared for over 1,700 patients requiring intensive care services such as advanced cardiovascular and complex neurovascular care, both services that are recognized through these awards.

“Orange Park Medical Center continues to expand its cardiovascular and neuro care services with procedures not previously available in Florida or even this area of the country,” said Dr. Fahdi. “We're a destination for care.”

Dr. Fahdi encourages the community to act quickly if they feel they may be having a heart attack or stroke. Call 9-1-1 or get to the emergency room immediately. Avoiding medical treatment due to fear of a busy ER or COVID-19 could mean life or death.