Heart and Vascular Center awarded Heart Valve and Aortic Aneurysm re-accreditation from The Joint Commission
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Heart and Vascular Center has been The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for both Heart Valve and Aortic Aneurysm Certification. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.
The Heart and Vascular Center underwent a rigorous on-site review in April 2018. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards as well as with aortic aneurysm- and heart valve-specific requirements. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures also were assessed.
“Receiving the re-accreditation from The Joint Commission in these programs is an important step in our continuing the world-class care we offer these patients,” says Mel Sharafuddin, MD, a vascular surgeon with the UI Hospitals & Clinics Heart and Vascular Center. “These recognitions send a message to our patients that they are getting the best care available.”
Jay Bhama, MD, former cardiothoracic surgeon and chief of adult cardiac surgery at UI Hospitals & Clinics, agrees these recognitions send a message to UI Health Care patients that they are getting the best care available nationally.
"UI Hospitals & Clinics Heart and Vascular Center has thoroughly demonstrated a high level of care for patients with aortic aneurysm and heart valve concerns,” says Patrick Phelan, executive director, Hospital Business Development, The Joint Commission. “We commend the Heart and Vascular Center for becoming a leader in aortic aneurysm and heart valve care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for patients in its community.”
Established in 2002 and awarded for a two-year period, The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification evaluates clinical programs across the continuum of care and addresses three core areas:
- Compliance with consensus-based national standards;
- Effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and
- An organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.