Five Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Centers Achieve National Center of Excellence Designation in Heart Care

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) recognized five Hackensack Meridian Health medical centers in the final months of 2022 for their teams’ demonstrated commitment to developing a comprehensive, high-quality culture for cardiovascular care. Hackensack University Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, JFK University Medical Center, Ocean University Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center achieved the ACC’s HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence based on meeting extensive accreditation criteria, and through their ongoing performance registry reporting.

Hospitals and health systems that earn a HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence designation have met rigorous criteria, including participating in at least two ACC Accreditation Services programs, NCDR registries and targeted quality improvement campaigns, such as Patient Navigator Program: Focus MI (heart attack). The programs are designed to help hospitals and institutions close gaps in guideline-based care.

HeartCARE Center designation enables hospitals and health systems to showcase their elite status and publicly highlight their outstanding commitment to quality for their patients, providers and other stakeholders. “Hackensack Meridian Health has demonstrated its commitment to providing New Jersey with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award these medical centers with the HeartCARE Center designation.”

Hospitals receiving the HeartCARE Center designation have demonstrated their commitment to consistent, high-quality cardiovascular care through comprehensive process improvement, disease and procedure-specific accreditation, professional excellence, and community engagement. Hackensack Meridian has proven to be a forward-thinking network with goals to advance the cause of sustainable quality improvemen

The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals, like Hackensack Meridian’s, access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care.

“The ACC has recognized many of our medical centers for providing high-quality cardiovascular care in several areas, such as, heart attack, heart failure, chest pain and more,” Elizabeth A. Maiorana, MBA, MSN, R.N., vice president, Cardiovascular Care Transformation Services, Hackensack Meridian Health. “The HeartCARE Center National Distinctions of Excellence recognize the comprehensive nature of our programs and show that our network is fulfilling its mission to transform healthcare for all the communities we serve in New Jersey.”

For information about Hackensack Meridian Health’s cardiovascular services, visit https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/services/cardiovascular/. For a free physician referral, call 844-HMH-WELL.