ACC’s public reporting program, which unleashes for the first time important information about NCDR hospitals’ quality improvement efforts and robust data from the CathPCI Registry and ICD Registry, is an “initial step towards transformational transparency,” according to U.S. News and World Report.

The voluntary program was developed over several years to arm patients with information about the quality of care provided at NCDR hospitals, empowering them to take an active role in their cardiac care decisions. Additionally, public reporting incentivizes clinicians and health care organizations to improve quality of care. “With the current national emphasis on the quality, accountability, and cost-effectiveness of health care, the various stakeholders and consumers of health care are eager to obtain information about health care facilities and providers,” note Gregory Dehmer, MD, FACC, and co-authors in an ACC Advisory recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Regarding the future of public reporting the authors note, “The ACC is firmly committed to developing a cardiovascular public reporting program using high-quality clinical data that fairly and accurately characterizes the care provided while delivering usable and understandable information to the public. Voluntary participation in public reporting has the potential to enhance a health care facility’s standing and linkage to the community.”

Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, Cardiology, Delivery of Health Care, Delivery of Health Care, Integrated, Quality Improvement, Registries

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