The American College of Cardiology has awarded Lawrence General Hospital one of its first HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence for demonstrated commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality cardiovascular care and its ongoing performance reporting. Lawrence General is one of only four hospitals in the country to receive this new designation.
“Lawrence General has always been committed to providing the highest quality cardiovascular care and consistently exceeding national standards for cardiac quality measures,” says Kathy Caredeo, RN, director of Cardiovascular Services and Ambulatory Procedures. “This recognition reflects a lot of hard work by our physicians, nurses, techs, and the entire cardiovascular care team.”
Hospitals and health systems may earn the HeartCARE Center designation from the American College of Cardiology by meeting a set of criteria, including participating in at least two American College of Cardiology Accreditation Services programs, the National Cardiovascular Data Registry, and targeted quality improvement campaigns that are designed to help hospitals and institutions close gaps in guideline-based care.
Lawrence General is a leader in the region for the high quality of its cardiovascular care. In 2013, Lawrence General was the first community hospital in the United States without on-site cardiac surgery to achieve Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence for cardiac catheterization; the hospital was reaccredited in 2015.
Lawrence General also currently holds the following accreditations from American College of Cardiology: Cardiac Cath Lab with PCI Accreditation; Chest Pain Accreditation with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; and Heart Failure Accreditation.
“Lawrence General has demonstrated its commitment to providing the Merrimack Valley region with excellent heart care,” says Phillip D. Levy, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “Lawrence General has proven to be a forward-thinking institution with goals to advance the cause of sustainable quality improvement. ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Lawrence General with the HeartCARE Center designation.”
Hospitals receiving the HeartCARE Center designation from the American College of Cardiology have demonstrated their commitment to consistent, high-quality cardiovascular care through comprehensive process improvement, disease and procedure-specific accreditation, professional excellence, and community engagement.