Lankenau Heart Group physician practices honored by American Heart Association

Lankenau Heart Group physician practices, part of Main Line Health’s Lankenau Heart Institute, have been recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) for their commitment to managing heart disease risk by controlling risk factors like high cholesterol and diabetes.

Both awards are a testament to Lankenau Heart Institute’s commitment to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of cardiovascular disease.

Sixteen Lankenau Heart Group practices earned the AHA’s Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol Participation award in recognition of the Group’s collective commitment to reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke among patients by promoting tactics to manage cholesterol.

To effectively manage cholesterol among patients, Lankenau Heart Group physicians prescribed statins for adult patients who:

  • Had a diagnosis of clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
  • Had been previously diagnosed or had a family history of high cholesterol
  • Were between ages 40-75 with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and an LDL of 70-189 mg/dL

Additionally, Lankenau Heart Group at Newtown Square received the AHA’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Gold Award for implementing quality improvement measures to address the relationship between diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the outpatient setting. 

The Gold Award recognizes practices that have fulfilled the participant criteria and met the Gold Award level thresholds for each of two selected clinical measures related to diabetes control and cardiovascular disease risk factors, hypertension and high cholesterol. Lankenau Heart Group at Newtown Square was specifically recognized for showing impressive HbA1c control in patients with diabetes.

“These well-deserved awards recognize our Lankenau Heart Group physician practices for their ongoing commitment to keeping our patients well by not only following proven guidelines that reduce the onset or recurrence of heart and vascular disease, but also by providing education and guidance to help inform healthy decisions. At Lankenau Heart Institute, we offer advanced surgical and interventional care for complex cardiovascular issues when they arise, but the goal is always to be able to offer early, preventative approaches that reduce the need for those hospitalizations. These awards are a testament to the excellent care being offered at our practices, and we couldn’t be more proud to be receiving them,” says William Gray, MD, System Chief of Cardiovascular Disease at Main Line Health.

High cholesterol and diabetes are two of the most common risk factors for heart disease. Nearly one in three American adults have high LDL or “bad” cholesterol and need personalized treatment while every 80 seconds, an adult with diabetes in the U.S. is hospitalized for heart disease.

Lankenau Heart Institute offers the full continuum of cardiovascular care: prevention, diagnosis, imaging, treatment, cardiac rehabilitation and disease management at its hospitals and 16 Lankenau Heart Group practices across the region.

About Lankenau Heart Institute

The Lankenau Heart Institute is Main Line Health's premier comprehensive cardiovascular medicine and surgery program. Lankenau Heart Institute brings together the clinical expertise of all four Main Line Health acute care hospitals and both the employed and community cardiology practices to ensure that patients receive a level of quality, service and experience that is unparalleled in the region. Through the systemwide coordination of services, Lankenau Heart Institute delivers preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative cardiovascular services at each of our locations including Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital.

Lankenau Heart Institute continues to be an innovator in the use of beating-heart techniques and robotic-assisted procedures for coronary artery revascularization, minimally invasive and transcatheter approaches for valve repair and replacement, complex aortic surgery and heart rhythm disorders. With our growing experience and focus on minimally invasive techniques, Lankenau Heart Institute has expanded participation in clinical trials year after year. Our physicians are frequently invited to participate in clinical/medical device trials, many of which are designed to facilitate the use of minimally invasive approaches and procedures.

With a collaborative team of expert consultative cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and specially trained advance practice nurses and technologists, Lankenau Heart Institute is dedicated to managing and treating patients with simple to complex cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, aortic disease, coronary and peripheral vascular disease, lipid and genetic abnormalities, heart rhythm disorders and valve disease. Our team of cardiologists and cardiac and vascular specialists provide patients and their families with expert cardiovascular care, close to home.

About Main Line Health

Founded in 1985, Main Line Health is a not-for-profit health system serving Philadelphia and its suburbs. Main Line Health's commitment — to deliver safe, high-quality, equitable and affordable care for treating and curing disease, playing an important role in prevention and disease management, as well as training physicians and other health care providers — reflects our intent to be the region's premier choice for clinical care, research, and education. A team of more than 13,000 employees and over 3,500 employed and independent physicians and advanced practice providers care for patients throughout Main Line Health.

At Main Line Health's core are four of the region's most respected acute care hospitals — Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital — as well as one of the nation's premier facilities for rehabilitative medicine, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital.

Main Line Health also includes Mirmont Treatment Center for drug and alcohol recovery; Main Line Health HomeCare & Hospice, which includes skilled home health care, hospice and home infusion services; Main Line Health Centers, primary and specialty care, lab and radiology, and other outpatient services located in Broomall, Collegeville, Concordville, Exton, King of Prussia and Newtown Square; Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, a biomedical research organization; and Main Line HealthCare, one of the region's largest multispecialty physician networks.

Main Line Health is the recipient of numerous awards for quality care and service, including the prestigious American Hospital Association Quest for Quality Prize, highest tier ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for Overall Hospital Quality and systemwide recognition in the 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Main Line Health is committed to creating an environment of diversity, respect, equity and inclusion, has proudly received awards in this area and has embraced the American Hospital Association's #123forEquity Pledge to Act to eliminate disparities in care. We are dedicated to advancing patient-centered care, education and research to help patients stay healthy and live their best lives.

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Contact

Phil Ellingsworth, Jr.
Director, Communications
Office: 484.580.1182
EllingsworthPh@mlhs.org