An interview with A. Thomas Siachos, MD, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, Greenville, South Carolina.
Issue Number: Volume 23 - Issue 7 - July, 2015
In February 2014, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in Greenville, South Carolina, was the first hospital to receive reaccreditation for its cardiac catheterization laboratory and CathPCI program from the Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE). Reaccreditation was another accomplishment for Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, which was the first hospital to be nationally recognized with ACE accreditation in 2011.
ACE accreditation is a strategic, long-term approach to quality improvement based on comparing information collected against national data and best practices as defined by experts in the field of interventional cardiology. Programs that achieve full 
accreditation are recognized by ACE for two years, at which time their facility must be reviewed again for continued recognition. To achieve ACE reaccreditation, the physicians and staff at Bon Secours St. Francis Health System worked hand-in-hand with ACE’s expert cardiology professionals to implement appropriate use criteria (AUC), engage providers in the quality outcomes process, and validate compliance with current published guidelines and consensus documents. Reaccreditation recognizes the hard work and commitment of all members of the catheterization team.
Perspectives on ACE Reaccreditation is a 2-part series that explores the ACE reaccreditation process from inside the cath lab. In August, Lynn Smith, Director of Heart and Vascular Services at Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, will offer her insight on the ACE reaccreditation process from the perspective of the cath lab director. Below, A. Thomas Siachos, MD, shares his viewpoint on the ACE reaccreditation process as an interventional cardiologist with Bon Secours St. Francis Health System.