St. John’s Episcopal Hospital Receives Top National Recognition for Excellence in Heart Failure and Diabetes Care

Far Rockaway, New York, August 12, 2025 — St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, part of Episcopal Health Services, has
been nationally recognized by the American Heart Association with three
distinctions for excellence in cardiovascular and diabetes care: the Get With The Guidelines®–Heart Failure Gold Plus Award, the Target: Heart Failure℠ Optimal Award, and the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ Award.

These honors reflect the hospital’s unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for patients with heart failure and Type 2 Diabetes, reducing readmission rates, and supporting healthier lives beyond the hospital stay.

“Receiving these recognitions is a direct reflection of our team’s exceptional efforts,” said Donald T. Morrish, MD, MMM, Chief Executive Officer at EHS. “We are proud to deliver care that leads to a decreased recovery duration, fewer readmissions, and meaningful, lasting improvements in the lives of our patients and their families.”

The Heart Failure Gold Plus Award is presented to hospitals that consistently follow the most current, evidence-based guidelines developed by the American Heart Association to improve patient care and outcomes.

St. John’s also earned the Target: Heart Failure FailureSM Optimal Award, which recognizes hospitals that meet rigorous criteria for medication adherence, early follow-up, care coordination, and patient education. The “Optimal” designation signifies that the hospital has delivered impeccable care to the majority of eligible patients.

“These accolades belong to every nurse, doctor, and team member at EHS,” said Karen Paige, MBA, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, CPXP, OCN, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at EHS. “This level of performance requires teamwork, discipline, and a shared commitment to patient-centered care.”

In addition, St. John’s received the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ Award, which underscores the hospital’s efforts to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes – who are at increased risk for heart disease and stroke – receive the latest, evidence-based care during their hospital stay.

“Our clinical and quality teams have worked diligently to raise the bar on care delivery, and these awards confirm we are achieving measurable results,” said Robert Bloise, Jr., DMSc, MS, PA-C, Chief Quality Officer at Episcopal Health Services. “We are focused on building systems that continue to deliver safe, reliable, and effective care – every day.”