AHA and The Joint Commission Launch Comprehensive Heart Attack Center Certification Program

April 20, 2022—The American Heart Association and The Joint Commission announced the launch of the Comprehensive Heart Attack Center (CHAC) certification program. The new Advanced Disease-Specific Care certification will be available July 1, 2022, to all Joint Commission–accredited and nonaccredited hospitals.

The press release advised that CHAC-certified hospitals will be recognized for meeting standards that denote the highest level of commitment to providing consistent and optimal treatment for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI), non–ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction, and unstable angina, as well as complications related to ACS such as cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock.

According to the press release, CHAC-certified hospitals must provide 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week on-site coverage for primary percutaneous coronary intervention and cardiac surgical services.

Additionally, hospitals must implement a multidisciplinary team approach that offers a full range of advanced hemodynamic support for the treatment of the most complex and critically ill patients, including those with cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest, across the continuum of care.

Performance measure expectations for the new certification program will be available on The Joint Commission website: jointcommission.org. The standards also will be included in the July 1, 2022, version of the E-dition and hard copy update of the Comprehensive Manual for Hospitals.

The AHA/Joint Commission press release stated that CHAC certification is based on clinical practice guidelines and recommendations made in “Systems of Care for ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association,” which was published last fall by Alice K. Jacobs, MD, et al in Circulation (2021;144:e310-e327). The statement calls for the implementation of a system of care for all time-sensitive cardiovascular disorders in an effort to minimize delays in patient care, including emergency medical services’ routing protocols to transport patients to the most appropriate level of care. It also meets the characteristics for a level I STEMI center (most comprehensive).

Dr. Jacobs, the statement’s lead author, is Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs at Boston University Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, volunteer expert, and Past President for the AHA.

“The recent recommendations from the AHA provide new guidance on how best to care for patients experiencing the deadliest types of heart attacks,” commented Dr. Jacobs in the AHA/Joint Commission press release. “These are the heart attacks where survival is measured in minutes—and rapid delivery of guideline-directed care is essential for survival. Providing evidence-based care that improves the quality of care and outcomes for patients is central to the work of the AHA.”

Patrick Phelan, who is Executive Director, Hospital Certification Business Development at The Joint Commission, added, “With the addition of the CHAC certification, states, regions, and communities now have a comprehensive framework to build an effective system of care for patients at highest risk. The new program joins our existing heart attack certifications with the AHA, including Primary Heart Attack Center (level II STEMI center) and Acute Heart Attack Ready (level III STEMI center) to help hospitals elevate their cardiac programs—reducing variation and risk for a more consistent approach to every patient.”

Hospitals can learn more about the CHAC certification program by emailing certification@jointcommission.org.