Building Excellence: The Journey to American Heart Association Certification

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Cardiology
• Healthcare Systems Redesign

Background:

• Heart failure patients frequently present to hospice with complex symptoms and fragmented care.
• Existing care coordination and planning for advanced heart failure patients in hospice settings are often inadequate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the process and outcomes of pursuing American Heart Association Palliative/Hospice-Heart Failure Certification.
• To outline a system redesign strategy for improving care coordination and outcomes for heart failure patients in hospice.

Main Methods:

• Formation of an interprofessional Advanced Illness Management Committee.
• Implementation of standardized education, documentation, triage tools, and clinical pathways.
• Development and execution of performance improvement plans and collaborative learning initiatives.

Main Results:

• Achieved American Heart Association Palliative/Hospice-Heart Failure Certification in October 2025.
• Overcame challenges including initial low compliance rates and documentation barriers through strategic interventions.
• Established a robust care model for advanced heart failure patients.

Conclusions:

• System redesign and certification are effective strategies for enhancing palliative and hospice cardiac care.
• The developed care model provides a replicable framework for other serious illness programs.
• Standardization and interprofessional collaboration are crucial for improving care for advanced heart failure patients.