@article{3104520,
    title = "Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology Quality of Care Centres Programme: design and accreditation document",
    author = "Seferović, P.M. and Piepoli, M.F. and Lopatin, Y. and Jankowska, E. and Polovina, M. and Anguita-Sanchez, M. and Störk, S. and Lainščak, M. and Miličić, D. and Milinković, I. and Filippatos, G. and Coats, A.J.S. and in collaboration with the Heart Failure Association Board of the European Society of Cardiology",
    journal = "European Journal of Heart Failure",
    year = "2020",
    volume = "22",
    number = "5",
    pages = "763-774",
    publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Ltd",
    doi = "10.1002/ejhf.1784",
    keywords = "accreditation;  Article;  disease burden;  health care access;  health care quality;  health care system;  health center;  health program;  heart failure;  human;  intensive care unit;  medical education;  medical research;  medical society;  non invasive measurement;  primary medical care;  priority journal;  public-private partnership;  secondary health care;  tertiary health care;  accreditation;  cardiology;  Europe;  health care quality;  heart failure, Accreditation;  Cardiology;  Europe;  Heart Failure;  Humans;  Quality of Health Care",
    abstract = "Heart failure (HF) is the major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Given its rising prevalence, the costs of HF care can be expected to increase. Multidisciplinary management of HF can improve quality of care and survival. However, specialized HF programmes are not widely available in most European countries. These circumstances underlie the suggestion of the Heart Failure Association (HFA). of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for the development of quality of care centres (QCCs). These are defined as health care institutions that provide multidisciplinary HF management at all levels of care (primary, secondary and tertiary), are accredited by the HFA/ESC and are implemented into existing health care systems. Their major goals are to unify and improve the quality of HF care, and to promote collaboration in education and research activities. Three types of QCC are suggested: community QCCs (primary care facilities able to provide non-invasive assessment and optimal therapy); specialized QCCs (district hospitals with intensive care units, able to provide cardiac catheterization and device implantation services), and advanced QCCs (national reference centres able to deliver advanced and innovative HF care and research). QCC accreditation will require compliance with general and specific HFA/ESC accreditation standards. General requirements include confirmation of the centre's existence, commitment to QCC implementation, and collaboration with other QCCs. Specific requirements include validation of the centre's level of care, service portfolio, facilities and equipment, management, human resources, process measures, quality indicators and outcome measures. Audit and recertification at 4–6-year intervals are also required. The implementation of QCCs will evolve gradually, following a pilot phase in selected countries. The present document summarizes the definition, major goals, development, classification and crucial aspects of the accreditation process of the HFA/ESC QCC Programme. © 2020 European Society of Cardiology"
}