The Joint Commission/AHA revise requirements for Advanced Certification in Heart Failure program

Editor's Note

The Joint Commission, on July 12, announced that it and the American Heart Association (AHA) have revised requirements for the Advanced Certification in Heart Failure program to align with the latest clinical practice guidelines for heart failure, effective January 1, 2024.

Requirements for interdisciplinary team members have been expanded to include emergency department physicians, advanced practice providers, hospitalists, pharmacists, and cardiologists/heart failure specialists.

The revised requirements also include more specificity for developing written protocols, such as using new heart failure definitions and criteria to assess, diagnose, classify, and stage heart failure through the continuum of care.

In addition, the revised requirements emphasize how using a variety of assessments (eg, patient-reported outcomes and health-related social needs) aligns the plan of care with the patient’s goals and supports lifestyle changes.