• 09/28/2015

    What does Accreditation Mean on a Practical Level for the Cardiology Service Line?

    A Message from Our CMO by Bonnie H. Weiner, MD, MSEC, MBA, MSCAI, FACC, ACE Chief Medical Officer

    For the first time ever, cardiac catheterization laboratories have quality metrics that confirm the value of achieving full ACE accreditation for Cath/PCI programs. Three studies presented at the 2015 SCAI Scientific Sessions in May, 2015, validate the diverse benefits of ACE accreditation for cardiac catheterization laboratories, clinicians, and patients.1-3

    But what does accreditation mean on a practical level to cardiac catheterization laboratory administrators, regulators, payers, and other stakeholders? In addition to providing credible data, these studies provide important guidance that ACE-accredited facilities are significantly more likely than non-accredited centers to meet nationally established standards for multiple structural, process-related, and procedural domains.

    Better Case-Level Quality Outcomes

    To identify potential performance differences between facility types, we compared case data from 1728 patients at 24 ACE-accredited facilities to data from 445 patients treated at 4 facilities that did not initially meet the rigorous standards for ACE accreditation.

    The analysis found statistically significant differences across multiple performance domains, proving that ACE-accredited facilities are delivering high quality cardiac care that is more likely to be consistent with national standards of cardiovascular excellence.

    These studies determined that, at the case level, variables such as indications for the procedure, angiographic quality, and procedural performance metrics including lesion success and complications differentiate procedures performed at ACE-accredited cardiac catheterization laboratories from those performed in non-accredited facilities.

    Confirmed Value

    The second study examined the perceived value of ACE accreditation at 41 cardiac catheterization laboratories that had undergone ACE review. According to survey results, the ACE accreditation value proposition affects the entire cardiac catheterization laboratory, from enhanced patient safety; to improved staff confidence and morale; to marketing and community outreach.

    Most facilities reported pride in achieving ACE accreditation, with 86% of ACE-accredited facilities reporting that they incorporated their accreditation status into their marketing efforts. The observed changes in quality, safety, and morale were attributed to the ACE accreditation process.

    Improved Structural and Process Factors

    The third analysis compared 24 ACE-accredited facilities to 4 facilities that did not initially meet the rigorous standards for ACE accreditation. All facilities that apply to ACE, whether they initially obtain accreditation or not, receive continued coaching by the ACE team, to continue moving them forward on their quality journey.

    These findings indicated that metrics such as focus on leadership, staff training and experience, documentation, and the presence of an internal quality program are critical for meeting national quality standards and achieving ACE accreditation.

    Summary

    In today’s increasingly competitive healthcare industry, cardiac catheterization laboratories must find practical strategies to differentiate themselves while upholding the highest standards of patient care. We now have data that support the value of ACE accreditation as an evidence-based tool for demonstrating cardiovascular care excellence.

    Co-investigators on the studies:

    Gregory J. Dehmer MD, MSCAI, MACC (Texas A&M University College of Medicine)
    Ralph G. Brindis MD, MPH, FSCAI, MACC (University of California, San Francisco)
    Charles E. Chambers MD, FSCAI, FACC (Penn State Hershey Medical Center)
    Mary E. Heisler RN (ACE)
    Christopher J. White MD, MSCAI, FACC (Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans).


    1. Weiner BH, et al. What structure and process characteristics identify ACE-accredited catheterization laboratories? Presented at the 2015 SCAI Scientific Sessions. May 6-9, 2015; San Diego, CA. Abstract 13849.
    2. Weiner BH, et al. What outcome characteristics identify ACE-accredited catheterization laboratories? Presented at the 2015 SCAI Scientific Sessions. May 6-9, 2015; San Diego, CA. Abstract 13862.
    3. Weiner BH, et al. The value of catheterization laboratory accreditation. SCAI Scientific Sessions. May 6-9, 2015; San Diego, CA. Abstract 13833.