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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.

  • Virtual hospitalist care boosts patient outcomes, satisfaction

    Virtual hospitalist programs, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, have proven effective in terms of patient outcomes and physician satisfaction. Initiatives such as those at Houston Methodist Hospital and the Veterans Health Administration offer flexible models that enhance care delivery and reduce strain on hospital capacity. They provide benefits such as increased access to specialists, reduced emergency room transfers and high patient satisfaction, particularly in rural and remote areas. Medscape (6/22) Learn More

  • Remote hospital innovates to meet infection standards

    Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center, a critical access hospital in Alaska, overcomes significant logistical challenges to meet infection prevention standards. Infection preventionist Emily Frost highlighted at an APIC meeting how the hospital relies on innovation and cross-departmental collaboration to comply with regulatory requirements, often taking a hands-on approach due to delayed supply deliveries. Infection Control Today (6/22) Learn More

  • NP practice authority, readmission rates may be linked

    A study published in the journal Medical Care indicates that states granting full practice authority to nurse practitioners tend to have lower hospital readmission rates for chronic conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma, compared with states that have restricted authority. The study, which analyzed data from a nine-year period, highlighted the significant impact of nurse practitioners in managing chronic diseases, particularly in rural areas. Medscape (6/24) Learn More

  • CMS payment model list mistakenly includes 500 cardiologists

    The ACC noted that about 500 specialist cardiologists were incorrectly included in Medicare's Ambulatory Specialty Model for heart failure, which is intended for general cardiologists. The organization is working with CMS to address these discrepancies and has requested a transparent process for correcting specialty classification errors. Learn more here. Cardiovascular Business (6/23) Learn More

  • Patient portal messages rise, altering care delivery

    Recent national data show a dramatic surge in patient portal messages, with the average number rising from 0.99 per patient per year in 2020 to 2.5 in 2025 -- an increase of over 150%, according to a research letter in JAMA. This spike in digital communication reflects a major shift in how patients interact with healthcare professionals and underscores a growing reliance on electronic messaging as a regular part of care delivery. MedPage Today (free registration) (6/22) Learn More

  • Vibration-based technique shows promise in lead extraction

    A vibration-based technique for extracting implanted electrophysiology device leads has shown safety and efficacy in a first-in-human study at hospitals in Israel and Poland. The technique uses a guidewire to deliver vibrations to loosen leads from scar tissue, and the study had a 100% success rate with no complications in 10 patients. Findings were published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. Cardiovascular Business (6/18) Learn More

  • Smart hospital rooms enhance virtual nursing efficiency

    Illinois-based OSF HealthCare and South Dakota-based Sanford Health are integrating AI-enabled smart hospital rooms to enhance virtual nursing workflows. These smart rooms, equipped with teleconferencing and sensor technologies, improve efficiency and patient safety by enabling virtual nurses to perform tasks such as admissions and discharges more independently. The technology also aids in fall prevention and pressure injury management. While implementation faced challenges such as infrastructure upgrades and staff resistance, both health systems plan to expand the technology further, with OSF aiming to outfit all beds at its Saint Francis Medical Center by next year. TechTarget (6/22) Learn More

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