CarolinaEast Medical Center of New Bern, is the first hospital in North Carolina to receive the Cardiovascular Center of Excellence accreditation.

The Cardiovascular Center of Excellence accreditation is awarded from the American Heart Association. It recognizes hospitals committed to following proven treatment guidelines incorporated into a comprehensive system of care to fully address the care needs of patients with complex cardiac conditions.

Formally accredited centers must commit to building a systems of care approach in offering a broad scope of cardiovascular care services that range from prevention strategies to full continuity of care through rehabilitation and recovery after a cardiac event. Community education and support is a key focus for accredited hospitals.

Cardiovascular disease accounts for one out of every three deaths in the United States. An estimated 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease daily, an average of one death every 40 seconds.

Having accredited hospitals and care facilities equipped to collaborate with their communities to provide strong prevention, treatment and recovery programs for the complicated needs of patients with life-threatening heart conditions is key to improving quality-of-life and survival for all patients of all backgrounds.

To learn more about Cardiovascular Center of Excellence accreditation, visit heart.org/cardiacaccreditation.  To find other AHA/ASA accredited and recognized hospitals near you, visit heart.org/qualitymap.