Episcopal Health Services is Nationally Recognized for Commitment to Excellence in Heart Failure Care

Far Rockaway, New York, July 13, 2026 —
The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines^® – Heart Failure Gold Plus award for proven dedication to ensuring all heart failure patients have access to best practices and life-saving care

Episcopal Health Services received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines^® – Heart Failure Gold Plus quality achievement award for its ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for people with heart failure, including shortening hospital stays and increasing .

About 6.7 million U.S. adults are living with heart failure (HF), a number that is expected to rise to more than 8.7 million by 2030, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. Despite the name, HF doesn’t mean that the heart has stopped working — it means the heart is struggling to pump enough blood and oxygen throughout the body. While there is no cure, many people with heart failure can live a quality life by working closely with their health care team on a treatment plan that may include medication, symptom monitoring and lifestyle changes.

The Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure quality achievement award recognizes hospitals that consistently demonstrate a commitment to treating patients according to the most current, evidence-based guidelines as outlined by the American Heart Association. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association to work for hospitals nationwide, supporting care teams in delivering guideline-directed care. The program is designed to shorten hospital stays and increasing healthy days at home.

“Episcopal Health Services is committed to delivering high-quality care by following the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines,” said Donald T. Morrish, MD, MMM, Chief Executive Officer at Episcopal Health Services  “Get With The Guidelines helps our care teams put proven science into practice every day. Research shows this approach can support better recovery, with the ultimate goal of helping more people in Far Rockaway, NY, live longer, healthier lives.” 

Each year, participating hospitals qualify for award recognition by demonstrating sustained performance in delivering quality care for patients with heart failure. In addition to following clinical treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants provide patients with education and tools to help them manage their condition at home. 

“We are proud to recognize the leadership and dedicated care teams at Episcopal Health Services for their strong commitment to improving care for people living with heart failure,” said Sabra Lewsey, M.D., MPH, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Heart Failure System of Care Advisory Group. “Hospitals that participate in Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure, a 20-year flagship quality improvement program, often achieve better patient outcomes, including fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — benefiting patients, families, communities and health care systems alike.”

Episcopal Health Services also recognized on the American Heart Association’s Target: Heart Failure^SM Optimal. Hospitals receiving this award meet specific criteria that improve medication adherence, provide early follow-up care and coordination, and enhance patient education. The goal is to further reduce hospital readmissions and help patients improve their quality of life.

Episcopal Health Services additionally received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to heart disease or stroke. 

Episcopal Health Services

Episcopal Health Services Inc., (EHS) is a health system located on the Rockaway

Peninsula in Queens, New York. The system provides emergency and ambulatory care to

the densely populated and culturally and economically diverse Rockaways and Five

Towns’ populations. The system provides people of all faiths with comprehensive

preventive, diagnostic treatment, and rehabilitative services, regardless of their ability

to pay.

About Get With The Guidelines

Get With The Guidelines^® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.