Orchard Hill Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center  in Towson, MD recently earned the American Heart Association’s (AHA’s) new Skilled Nursing Facility Heart Failure Certification. Located at 111 West Road, the 134-bed center provides post-hospital care, short-term rehab and long-term residential care.

The American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. The world’s leading nonprofit focused on heart and brain health, the AHA has invested more than $4.8 billion in research since its founding. Evaluation criteria for its new skilled nursing certification – earned by less than 1% of skilled nursing facilities nationwide, to date – was designed by heart failure experts. Certification requirements include program management, personnel education, clinical management, care coordination and performance improvement, as well as patient and caregiver education and support.

“This advanced certification provides heart patients with the assurance that Orchard Hill is recognized by the AHA for delivering the most effective heart failure treatment strategies based on a standardized method of current evidence-based guidelines,” said Nikki Gachot, regional director of market development. “These specific care strategies and services are aimed at improving outcomes for those with chronic heart failure and its co-morbidities, as well as reducing readmissions.”

Serving as a healthcare resource for the families of patients and the local community, Orchard Hill maintains a resource library of physician-curated content.

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