HeartCARE^™ Center National Distinction of Excellence: Why It Should Matter to You

Your heart is the center of your cardiovascular system and is responsible for just about everything that gives your body life, from supplying essential oxygen and nutrients to carry away waste. When the heart stops, essential functions fail – some almost instantly. Given the heart's importance, you should only trust its care to the very best.

That’s one of the many reasons that the American College of Cardiology (ACC) HeartCARE^™ Center National Distinction of Excellence is so significant. The highest recognition given to a hospital by the ACC, its mission is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. Its vision is to be in a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and its outcomes.

The ACC HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence program, established in 2018, recognizes hospitals and health systems that demonstrate excellence in cardiovascular care through participation in multiple ACC accreditation and data registry programs. It is designed to highlight an elite group of U.S. hospitals that are going above and beyond to ensure that all patients have access to consistent, highest-quality cardiovascular care. Care demonstrated through a commitment to an integrative high-reliability culture and adoption of comprehensive quality improvement initiatives, including disease and procedure-specific accreditations, community engagement and professional achievement.

A Trusted Source

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is 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 leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. More information is available on the ACC’s website at acc.org.

The First Recipient in Ohio

Many hospitals participate in multiple ACC quality improvement programs and registries. With this new designation, they now can publicly highlight their outstanding commitment to quality for their patients, providers and other stakeholders.

Summa Health was the first Ohio recipient of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence. Designated in 2018, the Akron Campus of the Summa Health Heart and Vascular Institute (SHHVI) was recognized for its outstanding efforts in ensuring the highest levels of consistent cardiovascular patient care. In addition to receiving Heart Failure Accreditation, the Summa Health Campus is an Accredited Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation. What’s more, the Summa Health Barberton Campus was named an Accredited Chest Pain Center.

Summa Health Heart and Vascular Institute is a nationally recognized heart healthcare organization dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered cardiovascular care for a healthier community. Established to unite all healthcare professionals engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease under a single entity, it offers patients a comprehensive team-based approach.

This skilled team of heart and vascular specialists and supporting healthcare professionals are trained to treat a wide range of cardiac issues. With the largest multidisciplinary cardiovascular medicine team in the tri-county region – comprised of nearly 50 cardiologists, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons – the institute is focused on maintaining positive patient outcomes by effectively treating heart diseases and conditions by offering a comprehensive list of cardiology services, including:

• Anticoagulation
• Atrial fibrillation
• Cardiac ablation
• Cardiac catheterization
• Cardiothoracic surgery
• Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation
• Clinical trials
• Continuing medical education opportunities
• Device clinic
• Endovascular medicine
• Heart attack care
• Heart failure
• Heart rhythm services
• Non-invasive cardiac testing
• Non-invasive vascular testing
• Research education
• Structural heart services
• Vascular surgery

Summa Health also has a number of residency programs and cardiovascular medicine fellowships, as well as affiliations with nearby medical schools including Northeast Ohio Medical University. Its comprehensive programs include rigorous clinical exposure, as well as ample opportunities for academic research in a highly collegial and collaborative setting. All of which elevates the quality of care delivered by Summa Health’s attending physicians.

Appointments are available at more than a dozen convenient office locations in Summit, Medina and Portage Counties. As a result, patients receive the right care at the right time – no matter where they choose to receive care within the Summa Health System.

Symbol of Commitment to Quality

Through the HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence, the ACC honors forward-thinking institutions like Summa Health that advance the cause of sustainable quality improvement with a prestigious national distinction of excellence. As a patient, always look for this designation as the ultimate recognition for commitment to quality in heart and vascular care.

To learn more about the HeartCARE Center: National Distinction of Excellence, visit acc.org/HeartCARECenter. For more information about the Summa Health Heart and Vascular Institute, make an appointment with our cardiac care specialists.