Why excellence in cardiac care matters more than ever 

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, accounting for nearly one-third of deaths each year. This escalating burden requires hospitals to provide life-saving interventions, as well as offer integrated, proactive, and outcomes-focused care.  

At the same time, stakeholders – patients, payers, and regulatory bodies – are demanding proof of quality. They want assurance that hospitals are not only treating cardiac events, but also preventing complications, reducing readmissions, and coordinating care seamlessly across inpatient and outpatient settings. 

Achieving the Cardiac Centre of Excellence Designation signals that your hospital is at the forefront of cardiovascular care. It confirms your ability to consistently meet the highest clinical standards and deliver measurable results. 

How CCED supports comprehensive cardiac excellence 

The Cardiac Centre of Excellence Designation (CCED) is an elite recognition awarded to hospitals that demonstrate outstanding high-quality, integrated cardiovascular care across the continuum.  The designation affirms that your cardiac services are evidence-based, patient-centred, outcomes-driven, and operationally integrated. 

To earn this designation, hospitals must achieve at least three of the following DNV certifications: 

• Advanced Chest Pain Certification. 
• Heart Failure Advanced Certification. 
• Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) Certification. 
• Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Facility Credentialing Program. 

These certifications demonstrate excellence in clinical protocols, emergency response, chronic care management, interventional and surgical services, and multidisciplinary collaboration. 

The CCED evaluation also covers a broad range of cardiac services, including: 

• Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and heart failure management. 
• Electrophysiology and interventional cardiology. 
• Cardiothoracic surgery and advanced cardiac procedures. 
• Cardiac rehabilitation, prevention, and chronic care. 
• Cardiac imaging, diagnostics, and preventive care. 
• Seamless care coordination between emergency, inpatient, and outpatient services. 

Each designation survey is conducted by DNV’s cardiovascular surveyors and is tailored to your facility’s programs.  The process includes data review, staff interviews, and examination of workflows to verify alignment with international best practices and continuous quality improvement.