Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center Nationally Recognized for High-Quality Cardiovascular Care

Seven Hackensack Meridian medical centers have achieved HeartCARE Center national recognition

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center with HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence for its demonstrated commitment to providing patients with a comprehensive, high-quality culture of cardiovascular care.

Southern Ocean Medical Center (SOMC) is one of seven Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) medical centers that have achieved the ACC’s HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence based on meeting extensive accreditation criteria, and through their ongoing performance registry reporting. Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Bayshore Medical Center, JFK University Medical Center, Ocean University Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center have also achieved HeartCARE Center distinction.

Hospitals and health systems earning an ACC HeartCARE Center designation met a set of criteria, including participating in at least two ACC Accreditation Services programs, NCDR registries and targeted quality improvement campaigns, such as Patient Navigator Program: Focus MI, that are designed to help hospitals and institutions close gaps in guideline-based care.

SOMC has received the ACC’s, Chest Pain Center Accreditation, Heart Failure Accreditation, and NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award. “This acknowledgement is a testament to our dedicated team, our continued investment in cutting-edge technology, recruitment of top talent, and expansion of cardiac services which have been aimed at meeting the growing needs of our neighborhoods. Whether for emergency or elective heart care, the residents of our region know they can rely on Southern Ocean Medical Center,” said William Schreiber, MBA, MSN, RN-BC, interim president and chief hospital executive, SOMC.

“Southern Ocean Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the community it serves with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, M.D., MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award SOMC 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. JSUMC has proven to be a forward-thinking organization with goals to advance the cause of sustainable quality improvement.

“This is a significant recognition showing the proficiency of the cardiovascular teams at Southern Ocean Medical Center, as they continue to expand their heart care program,” said Elizabeth A. Maiorana, MBA, MSN, R.N., vice president, Cardiovascular Network Service Line, Hackensack Meridian Health. “As a network, we have dedicated ourselves to providing New Jersey residents exemplary cardiovascular care, best demonstrated by seven of our medical centers achieving HeartCARE Center distinctions.”

For information about SOMC, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/locations/southern-ocean-medical-center For information about Hackensack Meridian’s cardiovascular services, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/services/heart-care, or for a free referral to a cardiologist, call 844-HMH-WELL.

The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals 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.