Community Medical Center Recognized for Excellence with ACC Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation
Community Medical Center provides necessary care, resources to cath lab patients.
TOMS RIVER, NJ (November 20, 2024) — The American College of Cardiology has recognized Community Medical Center (CMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility located in Toms River, New Jersey, for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients who come to a cardiac catheterization or ‘cath’ lab for care. CMC, an academic medical center, was awarded Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation in November based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who come to the cardiac cath lab.
Hospitals that have proven exceptional competency in treating patients who require cardiac catheterization have standardized their assessment process for patients before undergoing catheterization to ensure quality and patient safety. They ensure that care in the procedure room for sedation, infection control, radiation safety, universal protocol, and time out procedures is fully coordinated; and have mastered the appropriate transfer to a cath recovery unit to better monitor and track complications, enhance physician-to-patient communication, patient family communication, discharge instructions and follow-up information.
“Community Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to providing Ocean County 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 Community Medical Center with Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation.”
Hospitals receiving Cardiac Cath Lab 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 care of cath lab 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 improved patient outcomes.
“I am very proud of the entire multidisciplinary team in the cath lab for achieving this critical milestone,” said Jay H. Stone, MD, Medical Director, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Community Medical Center. “It represents our commitment to high-quality patient care. It required all members of our team—nurses, physicians, techs, and staff—to work together to be successful and serve as a trusted provider of cardiac care for Ocean County and beyond.”
Community Medical Center is nationally recognized for providing high quality patient care, and have received four consecutive ‘A’ Hospital Safety Scores from The Leapfrog Group. Additionally, the hospital is certified by The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation for its cardiac rehabilitation program and earned accreditation from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission accreditation for Echocardiography.
The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like CMC 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 the cath lab.