Rural Hospital Cardiogenic Shock Grant Program

Many hospitals caring for chest pain and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients lack key evidence-based processes that improve outcomes, including structured quality improvement plans, standardized triage education, EMS activation protocols, and cardiogenic shock care pathways.

ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditation provides hospitals with a proven roadmap for building and sustaining high-quality cardiovascular care programs. Combined with the new CV Shock Designation, organizations gain access to clinical guidance, best practices, performance improvement tools, and dedicated support designed to improve the recognition, treatment, and transfer of high-risk shock patients.

The grant, supported through Johnson & Johnson, is available exclusively to new Chest Pain Center Accreditation and new NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry® Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and applies only during the first year of participation (initial annual payment).

• ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditation with CV Shock Designation
• Participation in the Chest Pain – MI Registry®
• Data collection and performance measurement support
• Access to ACC Accreditation resources and tools
• Guidance from an Accreditation Review Specialist throughout the accreditation journey

Important: Hospitals must successfully pursue the CV Shock Designation as part of the accreditation process to remain eligible for grant funding.

This opportunity is intended for rural hospitals serving geographically isolated or underserved populations that are committed to improving cardiovascular emergency care and establishing a sustainable cardiogenic shock program. The grant, supported through Johnson & Johnson, is available exclusively to new Chest Pain Center Accreditation and new NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry® Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and applies only during the first year of participation (initial annual payment).

Eligible Rural Hospital Types
Applicants must be an acute-care or critical access hospital that meets at least one of the following:

• Critical Access Hospital (CAH)
• Rural Referral Center (RRC)
• Sole Community Hospital (SCH)
• Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH)
• CMS Rural Designation
• HRSA Rural Health Grants Eligibility Area

Operational Characteristics
Hospitals should generally demonstrate:

• 200 licensed beds or fewer
• 24/7 Emergency Department services
• Limited on-site specialty cardiovascular resources
• Significant reliance on transfers for advanced cardiac or ICU care
• Geographic distance from tertiary cardiovascular centers
• A strong commitment from hospital leadership to sustaining the program after grant support ends

Grant funding is designed to help hospitals launch their transformation journey. Applicants
should demonstrate:

• Executive leadership support
• A strategic plan for cardiovascular program development
• An approved budget to maintain accreditation and registry participation beyond the grant year
• Commitment to sustaining the program through the accreditation cycle

Organizations pursuing Chest Pain Center Accreditation with CV Shock Designation will develop a comprehensive system of care that supports:

Governance & Leadership

• Dedicated Chest Pain Center leadership structure
• Program charter and accountability framework
• Ongoing performance review and improvement meetings
• Staff education and competency programs

Quality Improvement

• Cardiovascular Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Plan
• Process improvement initiatives based on performance data
• STEMI and cardiogenic shock case review processes
• Ongoing monitoring of outcomes and opportunities for improvement

Community Engagement

• Community cardiovascular health initiatives
• Heart attack awareness education
• CPR and public outreach events
• Collaboration with EMS and community partners

EMS & Pre-Hospital Care

• STEMI activation pathways
• EMS education and feedback loops
• Standardized processes for rapid identification and triage

Acute Coronary Syndrome & Shock Care

• Standardized ACS treatment pathways
• Guideline-driven chest pain and cardiogenic shock protocols
• Risk stratification tools and clinical decision support
• Clear escalation and transfer processes

Data & Performance Measurement

• Participation in the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry®
• Clinical data abstraction and analysis
• Benchmarking against national standards
• Continuous quality improvement driven by outcomes data

The CV Shock Designation is an advanced recognition within Chest Pain Center Accreditation focused specifically on improving outcomes for patients with cardiogenic shock.

Participating hospitals establish:

• Standardized cardiogenic shock recognition pathways
• Guideline-driven treatment protocols
• Shock team activation processes
• Staff and EMS education programs
• Shock staging and documentation processes
• Ongoing review of shock outcomes and performance measures
• Structured escalation and transfer strategies based on available resources

The designation is designed to help hospitals identify shock sooner, activate care faster, and deliver more consistent, evidence-based care for some of the highest-risk cardiovascular patients.

Hospitals that pursue Chest Pain Center Accreditation benefit from:

Better Patient Outcomes

• Improved recognition and treatment of ACS and cardiogenic shock
• Reduced mortality and readmissions
• More consistent delivery of guideline-directed care

Operational Efficiency

• Reduced variation in care processes
• Improved patient throughput
• Potential reduction in length of stay

Team Alignment

• Stronger collaboration across departments
• Clear accountability and performance measures
• Improved coordination with EMS and referral partners

Expert Support

Every participating organization is paired with an Accreditation Review Specialist who serves as a dedicated guide throughout the accreditation process.

Most facilities can complete Chest Pain Center Accreditation within 12 months or less, depending on program maturity and readiness. ACC provides tools, resources, shared practices, and expert guidance to help hospitals successfully navigate the process.

Step 1
Confirm your hospital meets the rural eligibility and operational requirements.

Step 2
Send an email with your supporting facility information to accreditationinfo@acc.org, using the subject line "Cardiogenic Shock Grant Program" with the following information:

1. Name of Facility
2. Facility Location
3. Facility Bed Size
4. Main Point of Contact on the Application

Step 3
Work with ACC Accreditation Services® to begin your Chest Pain Center Accreditation and CV Shock Designation journey.