Benefits of Accreditation
Accreditation brings together diverse medical specialties, such as EMS, emergency medicine, and cardiology; clinicians and administrators; doctors and nurses; lawyers; architects and quality improvement professionals. It improves the clinical processes for the early assessment, diagnosis and treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), Heart Failure (HF), and Atrial Fibrillation (AF) within emergency treatment facilities of all sizes.
Accredited hospitals have achieved a higher level of expertise when dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack.
The benefits of accreditation are numerous:
- Financial benefits are twofold: Increased volume leads to increased revenue; and Medicare payments to accredited hospitals are maintained due to appropriate patient status placement
- Accreditation is associated with better performance of CMS core measures for the ACS and HF patient
- Improves quality outcomes
- Establishes facilities' commitment to higher standards and gives them a competitive edge
- Provides processes for timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment
- Defines risk stratification to ensure appropriate placement of patients based on clinical presentation and initial response to treatment
- Reduces the liability of missed MIs by using a consistent risk stratification approach for the ACS patient based on research and best practices
- Improves relationships and integrates processes with EMS and Dispatch Services thus reducing Door-to-Balloon times
- Breaks down silos, streamlines cross-departmental processes and creates a team approach to treatment
- Helps facilities identify gaps, measure results, and revise current processes
- Collects metrics to ensure that processes meet clinical and financial goals
- Decreases length of stay and improves the bottom line
- Avoids costs of frequent HF readmissions
- Helps facilities avoid Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) issues by developing a plan to link quality patient care with RAC strategies, including improved documentation, better risk stratification, and improved processes
- Demonstrates to the community the facility's commitment and dedication to provide exceptional cardiac care
