AHAR programs identify acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with a strong focus on those with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), making these facilities an important part of providing quality care to patients with cardiac conditions. 

Certified AHARs are STEMI referring centers and are not required to perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

AHAR programs meet eligibility requirements for providing excellence in heart attack care, treatment, and services that include the following:

• Focus on symptom onset and first medical contact, emergency medical services, the emergency department, as well as catheterization laboratories (if applicable) and inpatient settings.
• Recommended for organizations without on-site primary PCI coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An AHAR hospital may transfer STEMI patients to a Primary Heart Attack Center or Comprehensive Heart Attack Center for care.

Source: Joint Commission

PHAC certification is ideal for hospitals performing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and receiving referrals from other facilities. Hospitals with this certification will refer patients for cardiac surgery or more complex services as needed.

PHAC certification requires hospitals to:

• Focus on symptom onset and first medical contact (pre-hospital and upon arrival), emergency medical services, the emergency department, as well as catheterization laboratories and inpatient settings.
• Recommended for organizations with on-site primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) coverage for STEMI patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A PHAC hospital may transfer STEMI patients to a Comprehensive Heart Attack Center for care.

Source: Joint Commission

CHAC designation is for hospitals performing both cardiac surgical services and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. CHACs care for patients with cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest and provide care along the continuum, including cardiac rehab. 

CHAC eligibility requirements for providing excellence in heart attack care, treatment, and services include the following:

• To provide24 hours a day, 7 days a weekon-sitecoverage forprimary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI)and cardiac surgical services.
• To have a multidisciplinaryteamapproachwhich offersafull range of advancedhemodynamic support for the treatment of the most complexand critically ill patients, including those with cardiogenicshock andcardiac arrest.
• To meet 9 standardized performance measures such as ECG within 10 minutes of arrival, PPCI ≤ 90 minutes, and EMS FMC to PCI ≤ 90 minutes.
• To collect performance measure data four months prior to the initial certification review visit.

Source: Joint Commission

Comprehensive Cardiac Center (CCC)

The Comprehensive Cardiac Center designation is for hospitals that are the ultimate hub of the cardiac system of care. They deliver care for every touchpoint and for every cardiovascular disorder in the cardiac care continuum. These centers have a multidisciplinary program that includes 24-hour emergency services, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, vascular surgery and heart failure therapy.

Facilities must also offer specific services to cardiac patients, including:

• Providing cardiac disease prevention resources
• Managing and triaging emergency cardiovascular conditions
• Addressing cardiac arrest
• Addressing ischemic heart disease
• Addressing cardiac valve disease
• Offering electrophysiology services and outpatient cardiac device clinics
• Providing cardiac rehabilitation (on-site or by referral)
• Providing heart failure management, including outpatient services

Source: Joint Commission