In December of 2010 an AHA presidential Advisory was released titled “Hospital Certification for Optimizing Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Quality of Care and Outcomes.” The advisory formally presented the American Heart Association’s intent to develop and enhance hospital accreditation and certification programs for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Since the advisory was published, technical advisory panels in collaboration with numerous healthcare professionals and experts have drafted the American Heart Association’s Cardiac Center of Excellence hospital accreditation model. 
 

It is the intent of the American Heart Association to provide the draft document for public comment to ensure that our recommendations are consistent with the current state of evidence and guidelines and meets the stated goals and objectives for hospital accreditation. Please click on ‘Review Document’ to review the American Heart Association Cardiac Center of Excellence model.
 

When reviewing the document, please consider the following when evaluating whether the standards are useful to identify a hospital as an American Heart Association Cardiac Center of Excellence:

• Provides comprehensive cardiac patient care with well-organized systems, services, facilities and highly trained and experiences physicians and cardiac team members, with emphasis on quality and outcomes.
• Uses evidence-based, guideline driven, standardized methods of delivering care.
• Supports systems of care and highly qualified multi-disciplinary cardiac teams.
• Supports patient safety, research, education and prevention.
• Provides patient-centered and coordinated care with treatment and intervention tailored to individual needs.

Please submit your comments by May 4, 2012.

For more information about American Heart Association/American Stroke Association hospital accreditation and certification programs, please visit www.heart.org/certifcation or www.heart.org/accreditation.