The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Union General Hospital for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with heart failure. Union General Hospital was awarded Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation in April based on rigorous onsite review of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients with heart failure through pre-hospital care, early stabilization, acute care, transitional care, clinical quality measures and more. Union General is the only hospital in the state of Georgia to receive this exceptional accreditation and the 3rd in the nation.
Heart failure is a condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. Facilities earning Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation not only demonstrate management of advanced heart failure, but also provide heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support and meet other specific criteria for the Advanced designation.
Hospitals that employ an evidence-based, protocol-driven and systematic approach to managing heart failure have been able to reduce time to treatment, and are able to identify and predict high-risk patients while also reducing length-of-stay and hospital readmissions.
“Union General Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to providing Union County and surrounding counties with excellent heart care,” said Phillip D. Levy, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Union General Hospital with Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation.”
Hospitals receiving Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that involves: completing a gap analysis; examining variances of care, developing an action plan; a rigorous onsite review; and monitoring for sustained success. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes, implementing of guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices in the precise care of heart failure patients. Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts leading to better patient education, improved patient outcomes, and more effective and efficient disease control.
“We are excited to have our team’s efforts recognized for advanced excellence,” Julia Barnett, Union General Chief Nursing Officer said. “Not only does our staff provide quality care for heart failure patients in the hospital, but we’ve made it a priority to help educate these patients and our community on how to manage their symptoms in order to reduce the need for them to be admitted to the hospital for care.”
Union General Hospital is a licensed and accredited 45-bed, not-for-profit healthcare facility that serves the North Georgia and surrounding Tri-State communities. Over the past two years, Union General has received two recognition’s from the American College of Cardiology including Chest Pain Accreditation and now Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation. This dedication to continuous improvement of heart care proves Union General’s commitment to providing the highest quality heart care to their patients.
The ACC offers hospitals like Union General Hospital 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, including heart failure.
The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who met stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.