Inova Heart and Vascular Institute Earns Joint Commission Certification for Heart Attack Care

Falls Church, VA – (November 23, 2010) — The Inova Heart and Vascular Institute at Inova Fairfax Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for its treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) – also know as heart attack – by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for healthcare quality and safety. It is one of just two hospitals in the Washington, DC region to receive this certification.

To earn this distinction, the AMI program was evaluated against Joint Commission standards through an extensive on-site evaluation that included interviews with physicians and staff and an assessment of the program’s processes and the hospital’s ability to evaluate and improve care within the organization.

“We are honored to be recognized with this certification,” said Patricia Knowles, RN, Interim Administrator, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute. “A heart attack is a life- threatening condition that requires expert care. Our Joint Commission designation is another indication that Inova Heart and Vascular Institute provides safe, high quality cardiac care to patients in our community.”

The Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards. The accreditation award demonstrates the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute’s dedication to complying with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis.

Inova Heart and Vascular Institute’s state-of-the-art flagship location on the Inova Fairfax Hospital campus is one of the most technologically-advanced cardiac care centers in the United States. Housed in the four-story, 410,000-square-foot facility are:

• 204 total beds
• 48 intensive coronary care beds
• 11 cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology suites
• Five operating rooms and a hybrid operating room suite

The Inova Heart and Vascular Institute has received a rating of #1 for cardiology services in Virginia, including five-star excellence ratings for valve replacement surgery and care of patients suffering from heart attack and heart failure from HealthGrades, an independent ratings company. It also holds a three-star rating, the highest available, from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The hospital is the only facility in the Washington, DC area and in the Commonwealth of Virginia to be recognized on Hospital Compare for better than expected survival outcomes for heart attack patients.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of healthcare accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in healthcare organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates, accredits and certifies more than 18,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States, including hospitals and home care organizations.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.