Get With The Guidelines® - Resuscitation Recognition Criteria

Award Level

Hospitals that participate actively and consistently in Get With The Guidelines®- Resuscitation are eligible for public recognition. Participating in GWTG-R is the first level of recognition. It acknowledges program participation and entry of baseline data into the Patient Management Tool™.

Achievement Awards

These awards recognize hospitals that demonstrate at least 85 percent compliance in each of the 4 Get With The Guidelines®- Resuscitation Recognition Measures. The different levels reflect the amount of time for which the hospital demonstrates performance.

The Recognition Measures include:

ADULT age ≥ 18 years

  • Confirmation of airway device placement in trachea: Percent of CPA events in adult patients who had confirmation of airway device placement in trachea.
  • Time to first shock ≤ 2 min for VF/pulseless VT first documented rhythm: Percent of events in adult patients with VF/pulseless VT first documented rhythm in whom time to first shock ≤ 2 minutes of event recognition.
  • Time to IV/IO epinephrine ≤ 5 minutes for asystole or Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA): Percent of events in adult patients where time to epinephrine ≤ 5 minute of asystole or pulseless electrical activity.
  • Percent pulseless cardiac events monitored or witnessed: Percent of pulseless cardiac patient events were monitored or witnessed

PEDIATRIC age <18 years and ≥ 1 year

  • Confirmation of airway device placement in trachea: Percent of CPA events in pediatric patients who had confirmation of airway device placement in trachea
  • Time to first chest compressions ≤1 min in pediatric patients: Percent of events where time to first chest compressions ≤ 1 minute
  • Time to IV/IO epinephrine ≤ 5 minutes for asystole or Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA): Percent of events in pediatric patients where time to epinephrine ≤ 5 minute of asystole or pulseless electrical activity.
  • Percent pulseless cardiac events occurring in an ICU setting: Percent of pulseless cardiac events occurring in an ICU setting (Adult ICU, PICU Pediatric Cardiac ICU) versus a general inpatient area (General inpatient area, Step down/telemetry)

NEONATE age <1 year and ≥ 24 hours old

  • Confirmation of airway device placement in trachea: Percent of CPA events in neonatal patients who had confirmation of airway device placement in trachea.
  • Time to first chest compressions ≤1 min in pediatric patients: Percent of events where time to first chest compressions ≤ 1 minute
  • Time to IV/IO epinephrine ≤ 5 minutes for asystole or Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA): Percent of events in neonatal patients where time to epinephrine ≤ 5 minute of asystole or pulseless electrical activity.
  • Percent pulseless cardiac events occurring in an ICU setting: Percent of pulseless cardiac events occurring in an ICU setting (Adult ICU, PICU, Pediatric Cardiac ICU) versus a general inpatient area (General inpatient area, Step down/telemetry)

NEWLY BORN age <24 hours old and event occurred at delivery

  • Confirmation of airway device placement in trachea: Percent of CPA events in newly born patients who had confirmation of airway device placement in trachea.
  • Advanced airway placed prior to the initiation of chest compressions: Percent of CPA events in newly born patients <24 hours old who had an advanced airway (either laryngeal mask airway (LMA), endotracheal tube (ET) or tracheostomy tube) placed prior to initiation of chest compressions.
  • Pulse oximetry in place prior to the initiation of chest compressions: Percent of CPA events in newly born patients where pulse oximetry was in place prior to the initiation of chest compressions
  • Adult or Pediatric Time to positive pressure ventilation <1 minute from CPA recognition: Percent of newly born CPA events in newly born patients <24 hours old where the positive pressure ventilation was within 1 minute of event recognition.

Please note: Recognition criteria are subject to change based on program enhancement.

What is the hospital's responsibility under the automated award process?

  • Hospitals must have all prior year (calendar year) data entered into the Registry Tool by March 31.
  • Complete Quality Improvement Programs Permission Form (document) and return to your local QSI director (Only necessary to complete if not done so in past or you have name change request) 
  • Hospital will be notified by local QSI staff in May if they qualify for award

Don't miss out on these recognition opportunities. We thank you for your continued dedication to improving patient care, if you have any questions please contact your local representative or email [email protected].

Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff.

Last Reviewed: Mar 3, 2023