April 20, 2023 — The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized seven Hackensack Meridian Health medical centers for their demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with heart failure. They include the following:
- Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ
- Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ
- JFK University Medical Center in Edison, NJ
- Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ
- Ocean University Medical Center in Brick, NJ
- Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, NJ
- Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, NJ
The hospitals were awarded Heart Failure Accreditation based on rigorous onsite review of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients with heart failure through pre-hospital care, early stabilization, acute care, transitional care, clinical quality measures and more. Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center extended their commitment to care for the heart failure population beyond the acute hospital setting and in so doing was also awarded this accreditation ‘with Outpatient Services’ acknowledgment.
Heart failure is a chronic and progressive condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. Hospitals that employ an evidence-based, protocol-driven and systematic approach to managing heart failure have been able to reduce time to treatment and are able to identify and predict high-risk patients while also reducing length-of-stay and hospital readmissions.
“Hackensack Meridian Health has demonstrated its commitment to providing New Jersey residents with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award these Hackensack Meridian medical centers with Heart Failure Accreditation.”
Hospitals receiving Heart Failure Accreditation from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that involves: completing a gap analysis; examining variances of care, development of an action plan; a rigorous onsite review; and monitoring for sustained success. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes, implementing guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices in the precise care of heart failure patients.
“More than 6 million Americans have heart failure and 1 in 3 adults live with some form of heart disease, the leading cause of death and disability in our nation,” said Elizabeth A. Maiorana, MBA, MSN, R.N., CCCC, vice president, Cardiovascular Care Transformation Services, Hackensack Meridian Health. “With these staggering statistics in mind we, as New Jersey’s largest health care network, have made a concerted effort to provide the highest-quality cardiovascular care to everyone who comes through our doors. I’m proud of our heart failure teams for achieving these important accreditations showcasing their excellence.”
Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts leading to better patient education, improved patient outcomes, and more effective and efficient disease control.
For information about Hackensack Meridian’s heart failure services, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/services/heart-care/heart-failure. For a free physician referral, call 844-HMH-WELL.
The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Hackensack Meridian’s access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including heart failure.
For more information: www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org
May 26, 2023 
