Banner Thunderbird  accredited as Heart Failure Center

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Oct. 14, 2011) –Banner Thunderbird Medical Center has been designated an Accredited Heart Failure Center from the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium (HAC), a nationally recognized organization dedicated to improving care and survival rates for heart
failure patients.

More than 4.8 million Americans have heart failure and one million people are hospitalized each year with some form of heart failure. Additionally, an estimated 400,000 new cases of heart
disease are diagnosed annually, making it the most common diagnosis for patients age 65 years and older and the fifth most common for all age groups.

Hospitals receiving this accreditation have met or exceeded a wide set of stringent criteria and established quality measures. Additionally, the hospital must pass an on-site review by an evaluation team from HAC, which determines if the hospital can demonstrate expertise in
several key areas including treatment for heart failure patients, patient education, staff competencies and community outreach.

Nonprofit Banner Thunderbird was officially recognized as an Accredited Heart Failure Center during a special plaque presentation that took place at 4 p.m. Oct. 19 at the hospital. During the
ceremony, a plaque was presented to Banner Thunderbird CEO Tom Dickson by Tony Joseph, MD, CEO of The Health Care Accreditation Colloquium.

With the opening of its 38,000-square-foot, $20 million Heart and Vascular Center last year, Banner Thunderbird continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the top medical centers in the Valley for high-level heart care. Located next to the hospital’s Emergency department, the Heart and Vascular Center includes three new fully digital cardiac catheterization laboratories, state-of-the-art medical imaging equipment, and a special room to diagnose and treat problems
with the heart’s electrical system.

The hospital’s multi-disciplinary team of medical imaging technologists, nurses, radiologists, cardiologists and other heart specialists provides life-saving care to more than 800 heart
patients a year


Contact: Barry Iselin, Public Relations Specialist
Contact: 602-865-5779