Winthrop-University Hospital announced that it has joined the WomenHeart National Hospital Alliance, a program of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, which is comprised of |hospitals throughout the country who are committed to advancing women’s heart health. “WomenHeart is thrilled to welcome Winthrop-University Hospital to the National Hospital Alliance,” said Mary E. McGowan, chief executive officer of WomenHeart. “This membership represents a real commitment to advancing women’s heart health in Mineola by teaming with WomenHeart to bring free education and support services to their women heart patients.”
This partnership seeks to ensure that women heart disease patients in every community have access to information, education and patient support services. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women, and more women than men have died from heart disease since 1984.
“Today is an exciting day for Winthrop-University Hospital and the community of Long Island women who are living with cardiovascular disease,” said Barbara George, EdD, RCEP, MSN, AGNP-C, director of the center for cardiovascular lifestyle medicine at Winthrop. “Becoming a WomenHeart Hospital Alliance member solidifies our commitment to women’s heart health beyond the hospital walls by continuing to grow our support for women where they live and work.”
By joining the WomenHeart National Hospital Alliance, Winthrop will now begin the process of developing a WomenHeart Support Network—the nation’s only peer-led support networks for women living with heart disease. Led by female heart patients who are trained at the annual WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic, these women and Winthrop will partner in their local community to bring important messages of prevention, early and accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment to all women with regard to heart disease.
“Along with 33 other hospitals across the nation, the Division of Cardiology at Winthrop is proud to be part of this exciting Hospital endeavor which will allow us to continue our leadership role as being one of the top institutes in the delivery of cardiovascular care for women,” said Kevin Marzo, MD, chief of cardiology at Winthrop.
Additionally, WomenHeart provides National Hospital Alliance members with materials and information developed by the nation’s medical leaders in women’s heart health and the ongoing training and technical assistance required to establish and maintain the post-discharge support network for women heart patients—a critical component of helping women with their recovery and living with this chronic and often life-threatening condition.
For more information on when and where Winthrop will launch its WomenHeart Support Network for women living with heart disease, contact Dr. Barbara George at 516-663-4832.
Leanna Cherry writes for Winthrop-University Hospital.
