Recognizing Excellence in Clinical Care

Department of Medicine Clinical Services: Special Recognition

Recognition for Heart Care

• Heart failure program earns JCACHO certification (2013)
  Joint Commission or JCAHO, the national group that accredits healthcare organizations, certified the UVA heart failure program in 2013 for meeting national standards for quality care. Joint Commission certification demonstrates “a program’s effectiveness in using clinical guidelines and performance measurement to improve clinical care,” according to JCAHO.
• UVA honored for improving heart attack care (2014)
  Cardiovascular Medicine’s heart attack care program, run in conjunction with UVA Emergency Medicine, earned a national award from the American College of Cardiology for enhanced care for heart attack patients. UVA, one of 55 U.S. hospitals to receive the Gold Performance Achievement Award, was recognized for consistent compliance with performance measures from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. The standards focus on improving care for patients with a more severe type of heart attack called ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), which requires rapid treatment and close coordination between the ED and the Heart Center. The STEMI alert process implemented by the ED and the Heart Center speeds care for these patients through an on-call STEMI team that can be brought together within 30 minutes.

Recogntion for Liver Transplant Program

The liver transplant program, run by the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in conjunction with liver transplant surgeons, received a bronze-level award from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), based on its survival rates, transplant rates and mortality rates. Awards are given to fewer than 25% of transplant programs nationwide. The chart at right shows UVA’s survival rates at one year post-transplant for adults over age 18, compared to the national average.

Recognition for Dialysis Services

The UVA Dialysis Program, run by the Division of Nephrology, serves more than 800 patients in nine outpatient dialysis facilities, two peritoneal dialysis units, and through a home dialysis program; it is the largest hospital-based program in the country. In FY 2014, all UVA dialysis facilities achieved “Five Diamond” status from the Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition (MARC). The MARC program consists of training modules and resources to help dialysis facilities meet Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) standards for patient and staff safety; each certified facility must complete at least five training modules every year to maintain five-diamond status.

Recognition for Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program

The Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program, run by Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine faculty, received the 2013-2014 Cystic Fibrosis Quality Care Award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). The award, which was given to nine CFF-accredited centers around the U.S. in recognition of “outstanding service to people with CF and their families,” is based on site visits to accredited programs. Centers that received the honor excelled at meeting CFF’s quality improvement standards.