(OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. – March 23, 2009) The Joint Commission, in collaboration with the American Heart Association, announces its new Disease-Specific Care Advanced Certification Program in Heart Failure. This certificate of distinction recognizes hospitals that are making exceptional efforts to foster better quality of care and outcomes for heart failure patients.

The Joint Commission’s new advanced certification program requires organizations to meet the following criteria:

• Meet the standards and performance measurement requirements under The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification program.
• Achieve and sustain for 90 days or more at least 85 percent compliance with the five achievement measures of Get With The GuidelinesSM-Heart Failure, the American Heart Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program designed to close the treatment gap in cardiovascular disease.
• Collect data on Joint Commission core measures for heart failure and use this data in ongoing performance improvement activities.

Through the use of the standards and quality improvement tools, the advanced certification program promotes successful efforts in heart failure management which include a standard method of delivering or coordinating care; implementation of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines; a secure and timely system for sharing information across settings and providers, which safeguards patient rights and privacy; a comprehensive performance improvement program which uses outcomes data to continually enhance existing treatment plans and clinical practices; and clinical practices which support patient self-management.

“The Joint Commission's certificate recognizes organizations that are focused on the best outcomes for heart failure patients,” says Jean Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director of Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission. “Achievement of certification signifies that the services at these organizations have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes. This certification demonstrates to the community that the care provided is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of heart-failure patients.”

“By achieving recognition from the American Heart Association through our Get With The GuidelinesSM-Heart Failure program, hospitals have demonstrated their commitment to consistently delivering reliable, effective and high quality care to their heart failure patients,” says Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., chairman of the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines steering committee. “The Joint Commission’s certification provides an important way for hospitals to distinguish themselves, and more importantly, it helps raise the bar for heart failure care nation wide.”

For more information about the advanced heart failure certification program, please call 630.792.5291 or e-mail Jean Range at dscinfo@jointcommission.org.

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Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 16,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,200 other health care organizations that provide long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. In addition, The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 600 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, we’re the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. To help prevent, treat and defeat these diseases — America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers — we fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.americanheart.org.