Samaritan Recognized for Gold Standard Evidence-based Palliative and Hospice Care by the American Heart Association

American Heart Association certification recognizes Samaritan’s accomplishment in quality care

Mount Laurel, NJ – Samaritan has earned Palliative/Hospice Heart Failure certification from the American Heart Association^®, a global force changing the future of health of all. The certification provides an evidence-based framework for evaluating palliative and hospice care agencies against the American Heart Association’s rigorous science-based standards for heart failure patients. “This certification helps assure patients and families can have confidence that their end-of-life heart failure care is coordinated and follows the latest evidence-based guidelines,” said Kristen Schaefer, M.D., American Heart Association volunteer and vice president, associate chief medical officer at Care Dimensions. “We’re pleased to have Samaritan join the national network of American Heart Association Palliative/Hospice Heart Failure certified agencies.”

Samaritan, the leading provider of home-based Hospice Care, Palliative Medicine, and Primary Care at Home across the South Jersey region, has the distinction of being the first New Jersey based hospice to receive the Palliative/Hospice Heart Failure certification from the American Heart Association. Samaritan provides life-enhancing care to more than 12,500 patients and their families each year throughout communities it serves.

“Samaritan is proud to receive this certification from the American Heart Association,” said Dr. Sara Pagliaro, chief medical officer at Samaritan. “The tools and resources provided by the American Heart Association help us provide education and opportunities for our agencies to work toward quality efforts for our patients with heart failure. This accomplishment reflects our commitment to provide quality care.”

The certification signifies confidence that:

• an agency’s heart failure program uses a standardized method of delivering services based on current standards aligned with the American Heart Association science,
• an agency adheres to evidence-based requirements to improve care and quality of life for heart failure patients, and
• the agency is recognized by the American Heart Association, based on professional evaluation criteria designed by heart failure and home care experts.

For more information on Samaritan’s life enhancing care and services, visit www.samaritannj.org.

About Samaritan:

Samaritan is a not-for-profit, independent organization locally founded in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1980 as one of the first hospices in the country. Samaritan is now one of the State’s leading providers of hospice care, palliative (comfort) medicine, at-home primary care, social connections, grief support and counseling, advanced illness care, education and advocacy. Samaritan serves people in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties who are coping with the stresses of aging, serious illness or grief wherever they call home. Samaritan also has two dedicated inpatient hospice centers in Voorhees and Mount Holly. Beyond the services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance plans, Samaritan annually provides nearly $1M in donor-funded non-reimbursed care for patients and families in the South Jersey region. A thrift shop in Westmont also supports Samaritan services and programs. Samaritan is accredited by The Joint Commission; a member of the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation; and is a four-star hospice in the national We Honor Veterans program. For more information, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org.