Sovah Health Recognized for Excellence with ACC Heart Failure Accreditation

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Sovah Health for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with heart failure. The Danville and Martinsville campuses were awarded Heart Failure Accreditation in November 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.

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.

“Sovah Health has demonstrated its commitment to providing their region 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 Sovah Health 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, developing 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. 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.

"Achieving heart failure accreditation is a testament to our commitment of delivering the highest quality of care for our patients,” said Steve Heatherly, Market President, Sovah Health. “This recognition validates our team's dedication and expertise, and strengthens our commitment to support our patients' journey toward better heart health. We are proud of this distinction because it demonstrates our commitment to our mission of making communities healthier by offering the highest quality care to the communities we serve."

The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Sovah Health 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.