Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are drugs that stop the production of or the body's use of a hormone that narrows blood vessels. This helps reduce your blood pressure and the pressure in your heart.

ACE inhibitors can help treat heart failure or decreased function in the left side of the heart.

This measure reports the percentage of patients with heart failure who were given a prescription for an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker when they were discharged.

A high score is better than a low score.

The chart above shows how Cedars-Sinai's performance on this measure compared with the top 10% of hospitals in the United States, the national average for hospitals, the top 10% of hospitals in California and the California average. These data reflect care given to patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from April through June 2007. The national and California data reflect care given to patients from April 2006 through March 2007.