Cedars-Sinai’s Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Program has received accreditation from the Adult Congenital Heart Association, a support organization that aims to improve and standardize care for patients with ACHD. Cedars-Sinai is one of only 50 healthcare institutions in the nation to achieve the ACHD Accredited Comprehensive Care Center designation. The program is part of the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai, which was named #1 in California and #3 in the nation for Cardiology & Heart Surgery in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Hospitals 2022-2023” rankings.
The recognition spotlights Cedars-Sinai’s expertise and dedication to promoting and providing high-quality, comprehensive care for the growing ACHD population. Patients born with congenital heart defects are living longer than ever before and, in adulthood, may develop unique and complex health complications. Research indicates patients have better outcomes and survival rates when they are treated at accredited institutions by physicians specializing in ACHD1.
Rose Tompkins, MD
“Having a surgical procedure as a child is not a cure; it’s palliation,” says Rose Tompkins, MD, associate director of the ACHD Program. “The expectation of reintervention is more the rule than the exception. This highlights the critical importance of patients remaining in care throughout their lifetime with cardiologists who have special expertise in treating patients with congenital heart disease. Program accreditation sets a bar for ensuring exceptional, state-of-the-art care, so patients and referring providers feel confident in the care provided at Cedars-Sinai.”
Cedars-Sinai’s Guerin Family Congenital Heart Program treats patients of any age and disease stage, and they can remain in the program for life. Highly coordinated medical teams help ensure patients maintain a continuity of care by facilitating a transition from pediatric to adult treatment. Patients are more likely to stay engaged in their care and receive preventive treatment for their condition when they are offered a seamless transition from childhood to adult care2.
The Adult Congenital Heart Association’s accreditation acknowledges Cedars-Sinai’s specialized personnel with advanced training in treating ACHD as well as its rigorous standards for outpatient and inpatient care. It also recognizes the institution’s ability to provide access to experts across medical disciplines as well as specialized medical services and procedures—including, but not limited to, congenital heart surgery, congenital cardiac catheterization, high-risk pregnancy services and heart transplantation.
“This accreditation is a testament to the exceptional care we provide to our patients. It acknowledges several years of hard work building an ACHD program of excellence and marks the beginning of what I envision will become a lasting legacy of world-class ACHD care here at Cedars-Sinai,” Dr. Tompkins says.
“It takes a village to develop this level of comprehensive care, and I am very proud and appreciative of the phenomenal multidisciplinary expertise and collaboration of my colleagues who have helped make this recognition and accreditation possible.”
For more information, please email heartinstitute@cshs.org.
References
1Mylotte D, et al. Circulation. 2014 May 6;129(18):1804-12.
2Tianwei L, et al. World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery. 2023 May;14(3):357-363.
