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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.

  • ICU cycling, amino acid do not improve respiratory failure

    A study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that daily in-bed cycling and intravenous amino acid supplementation did not improve six-minute walk distance or other physical function measures in ICU patients with acute respiratory failure, compared with usual care. The multicenter, randomized Nutrition and Exercise in Critical Illness trial included 115 patients, mostly mechanically ventilated, and showed no significant differences in strength, quality of life or healthcare utilization at hospital discharge and at six months. Healio (free registration) (8/9) Learn More

  • Several Ala. hospitals achieve zero MRSA infection rate

    Six Alabama hospitals reported zero MRSA infections from July 2024 to June 2025, per a Becker's Hospital Review report based on CMS data. "A zero MRSA infection rate and our continued success with CLABSI prevention represent more than quality measures," said Crestwood Medical Center's Erin Thompson. "They mean patients are avoiding infections and potential complications during their care." WZDX-TV (Huntsville, Ala.) (8/11) Learn More

  • Hospitals postpone surgeries amid national blood shortage

    Hospitals nationwide are postponing some elective surgeries because of a shortage of blood products, particularly platelets. The American Red Cross recently declared its second-ever national blood crisis, with type O blood particularly scarce. The Ascension Saint Thomas system in Tennessee rescheduled some surgeries, and hospitals in Utah and Illinois are facing similar challenges. The American College of Surgeons said a prolonged shortage could force facilities to prioritize urgent cases and use stricter transfusion conservation protocols. Becker's Hospital Review (8/12) Learn More

  • Tamiflu may reduce risk of ICU admission for children

    The risk of ICU admission was 31% lower when children hospitalized with influenza were treated with oseltamivir, or Tamiflu, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics that analyzed data on more than 7,000 pediatric hospitalizations. The study found that treatment was associated with shorter hospital stays and that the benefits "remained significant regardless of time to treatment initiation from symptom onset." HealthDay News (8/12) Learn More

  • Microhospital strategy focuses on quality, efficiency

    Emerus CEO Vic Schmerbeck says the company's success in building microhospitals stems from focusing on excelling in a few key areas. Emerus partners with health systems to build hospitals with 10 emergency department beds and 10 inpatient beds, and Schmerbeck says this size is optimal for driving efficiency and delivering care. "I believe fundamentally that if you take great care of your employees and your physicians, they in turn will take great care of patients and families," Schmerbeck says. Chief Healthcare Executive (8/7) Learn More

  • Hospitals increasingly seek up-front payment from patients

    Hospitals are increasingly requiring patients to prepay charges not covered by health insurance, including deductibles, a shift from the traditional billing process in which patients are billed after receiving care. The trend is driven by rising deductibles and financial pressures on hospitals, and it is most common for out-of-network care. Some patients have had to delay or forgo care, or find a different facility. KFF Health News (8/12) Learn More

  • N.J. system gains Joint Commission's 1st AI certification

    Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey is the first care network to receive the Joint Commission's Responsible Use of AI in Health Care certification. The program recognizes the system's framework for effective AI use, including data security, privacy protection and staff training, ensuring tools are used safely and appropriately in patient care. Healthcare Innovation (8/9) Learn More

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