PRESS RELEASE: Transitions Healthcare North Huntingdon receives Skilled Nursing Facility Heart Failure Certification from the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association certification recognizes commitment to following the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines

IRWIN, Pennsylvania (November 14th, 2025) – Transitions Healthcare North Huntingdon has earned the Skilled Nursing Facility Heart Failure Certification offered by the American Heart Association®, the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health. The certification provides an evidence-based framework for evaluating skilled nursing facilities against the American Heart Association’s rigorous science-based requirements for heart failure (HF) patients, including program management, patient and caregiver education and support, care coordination, clinical management and quality improvement.

“Participation in this certification benefits the patient and the facility by standardizing care practices,” said Cory Woods, DNP, MHA, MSN, RN, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association’s Quality Certification Business Management Committee and assistant chief clinical officer at Rockport Healthcare Services in Los Angeles. “When there are clear processes during every phase of care, patients have the best opportunity for positive outcomes.”

Nearly 1 in 4 HF patients are readmitted within 30 days of discharge and approximately half are readmitted within 6 months; about one quarter of readmissions may be preventable. This certification can support facilities’ efforts to stop preventable readmissions.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the American Heart Association,” said Dayna Wilson, Nursing Home Administrator of Transitions Healthcare North Huntingdon. “Our nurses, therapists, and care teams have worked tirelessly to ensure every heart failure patient receives individualized, evidence-based care that supports recovery and long-term wellness. This achievement demonstrates our shared commitment to improving lives—one resident, one family, and one heartbeat at a time.”