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What's New at NCDR and ACC Accreditation Services

Stay up to date with the latest news from ACC NCDR and Accreditation Services, where data, accreditation and collaboration come together to drive meaningful improvements in cardiovascular care.

Celebrating Ten Years of Excellence

As ACC NCDR and Accreditation Services celebrates 10 years together, we reflect on a decade of progress, collaboration, and measurable improvement in cardiovascular care. Together with our partners, we remain focused on driving innovation, quality, and better outcomes for patients nationwide.

New Accreditation Designation

10 Years Together

NEW Chest Pain Center Accreditation Cardiogenic Shock Designations!

New standards focused on early recognition and escalation of cardiogenic shock. Presales will be available in late spring 2026. Stay tuned for tools and resources to support your planning.

News Stories and Journal Scans

Explore the latest ACC NCDR and Accreditation articles and stay informed about updates, insights and key developments.

CMS Proposes Updates to TAVR National Coverage Determination

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ACC Streamlines Cardiac Accreditation for Hospital Systems

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ACC HeartCARE Center Designation Hits 100 Hospital Milestone

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NCDR Study: Prevalence and Outcomes of PCI Performed at Facilities Without On-Site Cardiac Surgery

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NCDR Study: Off-Label Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Interventions Demonstrate Reduced Residual TR, Improved QOL

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QI.PI Project Grant Recipient Develops Digital Biomarker for PAD Screening


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Stay Connected to Quality and Practice Excellence

U.S. News and World Report

In the 2026 U.S. News and World Report "Best Hospitals" issues annual ad insert, the ACC recognizes the more than 2,000 hospitals, health systems and centers participating in NCDR and/or Accreditation Services.

 

ACC CV Quality SmartBrief

The ACC CV Quality SmartBrief eNewsletter is a free, twice-weekly briefing for health care stakeholders interested in quality care.

Learn more about the ACC CV Quality SmartBrief and subscribe.

Connect Through DocMatter

ACC members can deepen their engagement through DocMatter, the College's exclusive, secure online community. DocMatter connects over 65,000 cardiovascular professionals to provide a trusted space to exchange insights, discuss clinical and operational challenges, and stay informed about ACC NCDR and Accreditation programs and initiatives.

ACC members can access DocMatter as part of their membership.

From The ACC

Explore the latest news and insights from the American College of Cardiology shaping cardiovascular quality, care delivery, and accreditation.

  • Nurse-led protocol reduces cases of C. difficile

    A nurse-driven protocol at Henry Ford Hospital's nephrology unit resulted in a 90% reduction in hospital-acquired Clostridioides difficile infections. The initiative, detailed in NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery, involved targeted education, multidisciplinary cleaning and peer coaching. "By empowering frontline staff, aligning workflows, and strengthening relationships, the unit ... created a model that can be adapted across other units and clinical domains," the study team wrote. MedPage Today (8/19) Learn More

  • Study: ED patients often wait over 4 hours for hospital beds

    More than half of emergency department patients in the US wait at least four hours for a hospital bed, with some waiting at least 24 hours, according to a study published in JAMA. The study, which analyzed data from over 3 million ED visits across 17 healthcare systems, highlights significant variability in how hospitals manage patient transitions from the ED to inpatient care. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (8/20) Learn More

  • Study evaluates drug-resistant hospital infections in Asia

    A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases showed that drug-resistant hospital infections in Asian nations are more severe than previously thought, especially in low- to middle-income countries. The study, led by the National University of Singapore, looked at data from nearly 10,000 patients across 19 Asian countries and found that deaths from bloodstream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia are about twice as high as earlier estimates. The study highlights the need for better access to therapies and improved antimicrobial stewardship. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (8/24) Learn More

  • AHA warns of cyberthreat against hospital control systems

    The American Hospital Association issued a warning to hospitals about an active cyberthreat targeting building control systems, particularly Siemens S7 Series programmable logic controllers. The situation, highlighted in a joint advisory from multiple federal agencies, involves threat actors using artificial intelligence to exploit outdated software. Hospitals are urged to inventory and secure their programmable logic controllers immediately. Becker's Health IT (8/20) Learn More

  • Hospital workers face rising violence, demand better staffing

    Hospital workers across the US face increasing workplace violence, with incidents of nurses and staff being assaulted by patients becoming more common. This has led to strikes in states including Michigan, Rhode Island and New York, where workers demand better staffing and safety measures. Hospitals are implementing measures such as metal detectors and armed security, but workers argue that these are insufficient without adequate staffing. The American Hospital Association opposes mandatory staffing ratios, citing potential negative impacts on hospital operations. KFF Health News (8/19) Learn More

  • How health systems can develop physician CEOs

    Developing physician CEOs requires deliberate integration of clinical experience with leadership skills, according to a McKinsey report based on interviews with nearly 40 physician CEOs. Dr. Amit Shah, senior partner at McKinsey and coauthor of the report, says that health systems should treat leadership development as an institutional capability.  "I think that one of the big opportunities for leadership generally and for physician leadership is building a capability that allows you to broaden the number of leaders," Shah says. Healthcare Innovation (8/24) Learn More

  • Ambient clinical AI may create patient safety issues

    Ambient AI documentation tools generate codes for billing, but they don't generate comprehensive diagnosis and clinical codes that tell the patient's story, says Dr. Jay Anders, chief medical officer at Medicomp Systems. One consequence may be that patient information gets lost, potentially undermining patient safety, Anders says. Large language models are good at coming up with general billing codes, but they are not programmed to find specific clinical codes such as SNOMED codes, Anders says. Guardrails can be programmed into ambient AI documentation tools, and clinicians should read summaries and codes before approving them for medical records. Medical Economics (8/17) Learn More

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