Adventist Health Bakersfield Earns National Recognition as ACC HeartCARE Center of Excellence

BAKERSFIELD, CA — The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Adventist Health Bakersfield for its demonstrated commitment to comprehensive, high-quality culture, and cardiovascular care. Adventist Health Bakersfield was awarded the HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence in June based on meeting accreditation criteria, and through its ongoing performance registry reporting.

Hospitals and health systems that have earned an ACC HeartCARE Center designation have met a set of criteria, including participating in at least two ACC Accreditation Services programs, National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) registries, and targeted quality improvement campaigns that are designed to help hospitals and institutions close gaps in guideline-based care. Adventist Health Bakersfield has also received ACC accreditation in Cardiac Catheterization Lab with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI, and Heart Failure by ACC Accreditation Services. Adventist Health Bakersfield also participates in several ACC registries, including the Chest Pain-Myocardial Infarction (MI), CathPCI, EP Device Implants, and Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO) registries.

With this new designation, hospitals and health systems can now showcase their elite status and publicly highlight their outstanding commitment to quality for patients, providers, and other stakeholders.

“Adventist Health Bakersfield has demonstrated its commitment to providing the Central Valley with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Adventist Health Bakersfield with the HeartCARE Center designation.”

Hospitals receiving the HeartCARE Center designation from the ACC have demonstrated their commitment to consistent, high-quality cardiovascular care through comprehensive process improvement, disease and procedure-specific accreditation, professional excellence, and community engagement. Adventist Health Bakersfield has proven to be a forward-thinking institution with goals to advance the cause of sustainable quality improvement.

“We are proud to have received HeartCARE Center designation since 2013,” said Diwata Somera, director of Cardiac Services for the Adventist Health Central California Network. “Adventist Health Bakersfield is the only facility in Kern County to receive this distinction, which demonstrates our ongoing commitment to continuous quality improvement and providing Kern County residents with the best possible heart care.”[Ge1] [Ja2]

The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Adventist Health Bakersfield access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care.