A portfolio of joint programs that support a high standard of cardiovascular care for hospitals will help ensure patients have access to the most evidence-based care available. The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, and The Joint Commission, the nation’s largest independent health-care evaluation organization, are joining forces to provide an unprecedented focus on enhancing cardiovascular patient care through a range of innovative disease-specific hospital certifications while improving outcomes for those hospitalized with cardiovascular conditions, the number one cause of death in the United States.

The Association and The Joint Commission seek to bring the combined strength and foundation of their 15-year relationship in stroke certification to in-hospital cardiovascular patient care, leveraging the Association’s leading edge in cardiovascular science, research, and quality improvement with The Joint Commission’s expertise in working with health-care organizations to identify and correct any deficiencies in standards compliance as quickly and sustainably as possible. Together, the organizations will focus on certifying cardiac centers across the country, leveraging their past successes in stroke care certification. This expansion will help provide consistent quality patient care for hospitals with a wide range of capabilities to help to ensure patients receive the right care from the right facility at the right time.

“The American Heart Association is a trusted resource that is changing systems to elevate the quality of care that hospitals deliver,” says Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Together with The Joint Commission, we are positively impacting the cardiovascular health of the populations that hospitals serve.”

The American Heart Association and The Joint Commission share the goal of creating co-branded cardiovascular hospital certification programs that translate the latest evidence-based science to the bedside quickly and efficiently to help save more lives and improve patients’ quality of life. This approach will reduce duplication and confusion and consolidate certification options available to hospitals.

“The expanded collaboration between the American Heart Association and The Joint Commission will allow us to help a greater number of hospitals across the country to provide safe, high-quality, and appropriate timely care to cardiovascular patients,” says Mark R. Chassin, MD, FACP, MPP, MPH, president and CEO, The Joint Commission. “We encourage and support these health-care organizations on their quality improvement journey to reduce harm and improve the quality and safety of cardiovascular care.”