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HEALTH
November 2014 | thecurrenthub.com
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NORTH FULTON HOSPITAL’S “PATH TO HEALTH” PROGRAM ASSISTS PATIENTS WITH ENROLLING IN THE HEALTHCARE EXCHANGE AHA AWARDS NORTH FULTON HOSPITAL WITH QUALITY AWARD FOR ITS “GET WITH THE GUIDELINES” PROGRAM
Understanding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and determining whether someone qualifies for coverage can be challenging. That’s why, North Fulton Hospital will continue its “Path to Health” outreach to the community. “Path to Health” is a program that provides education and enrollment resources to individuals seeking information or needing to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Providing quality, safe care to patients is the first priority “The Health Insurance Marketplace is still a fairly new concept for people for any hospital. To assist hospitals with those priorities, and can be confusing, especially if it is someone’s first time to enroll in a organizations such as the American Heart Association, the plan,” says Debbie Keel, CEO of North Fulton Hospital. “Our program is Joint Commission, and others have developed guidelines to designed to provide the necessary education and resources to our community so individuals can make informed decisions about what coverage assist hospitals with meeting quality and safety standards. best suits their needs.”
Health Insurance Marketplace Enrollment Resources COMMUNITY CLASSROOMS NORTH FULTON HOSPITAL NOVEMBER 15 DECEMBER 20 JANUARY 17 10 AM – 2 PM FEBRUARY 3 4-7 PM
Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace will begin November 15th. To assist during open enrollment, North Fulton Hospital has partnered with Get Covered America to provide education and enrollment sessions. Events will be held in the community classrooms at North Fulton Hospital on November 15th, December 20th, and January 17th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and on February 3rd from 4 – 7 p.m. Certified navigators will be available to guide patients through the various options and assist with the enrollment process. Enrollment takes approximately 1 hour, parking is free, and refreshments will be served. In addition to the enrollment events, North Fulton Hospital provides an education website, brochure, and a benefits navigator who is available Monday-Friday to assist with enrollment. To schedule an appointment or to receive more information, log on to pathtohealth.com or call 770-751-2756. ❍
The American Heart Association recently awarded North Fulton Hospital with the Gold Plus award for meeting the “Get With The Guidelines” standards for Stroke and Congestive Heart Failure. The hospital was first awarded Gold Plus for Stroke in 2010 followed by Congestive Heart Failure in 2011 and has consistently received both awards since that time. “Providing quality, evidence-based care is the most important commitment that we can make to our community,” said Debbie Keel, Chief Executive Officer of North Fulton Hospital. “Using the AHA “Get With The Guidelines” program helps us to set some of the highest standards and then work every day to meet those goals.” “Get With The Guidelines” is an inhospital program, established by the American Heart Association in 2003, to help improve patient care by promoting consistent adherence to the latest scientific treatment guidelines. Its goal is to provide better patient outcomes through setting
standards for a variety of diagnoses for cardiovascular disease. To be considered for the Gold Plus award, the hospital must meet performance guidelines on over 85% of patients with Heart Failure and Stroke that admit to the hospital over a 12-month period. “For all of us at North Fulton Hospital, it’s about making a promise to the community to continuously advance the care and service we provide,” said Keel. In 2007, North Fulton Hospital was designated by the Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center of Excellence. Since that time, the hospital has continuously expanded its services for Stroke and Cardiovascular care including expanding its cardiology program in 2013 to provide interventional cardiac catheterization. ❍ For more information on North Fulton Hospital’s commitment to quality, hospital services or to find a physician, log onto www.nfultonhospital.com.