CentraState Medical Center recognized for excellence with ACC HeartCARE Center designation

FREEHOLD, NJ - MAY 29, 2025 - CentraState Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System, has been recognized by the American College of Cardiology for its demonstrated commitment to comprehensive, high-quality culture and cardiovascular care. CentraState was awarded the HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence based on meeting accreditation criteria, and through their ongoing performance registry reporting. The medical center is among only nine hospitals in New Jersey and 75 nationally to earn the distinction.

Hospitals and health systems that have earned an ACC HeartCARE Center designation have 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. CentraState was previously awarded Chest Pain with Resuscitation and PCI Accreditation and Cardiac Cath Lab with PCI Accreditation by ACC Accreditation Services. CentraState also participates in the CathPCI, Chest Pain and Heart Failure NCDR Registries.

"Earning the HeartCARE Center designation from the American College of Cardiology reflects CentraState's unwavering commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality cardiovascular care," said Thomas W. Scott, FACHE, FABC, President and CEO of CentraState Healthcare System. "Our cardiac care team has worked diligently to expand lifesaving cardiovascular services in Monmouth County, and this recognition is a testament to their dedication to clinical excellence, continuous improvement, and the heart health of the Freehold community."

In recent years, CentraState has made significant cardiac care advances that enable more people to receive the vital services they need close to home. In 2022, CentraState opened the state-of-the-art Robertshaw Cardiovascular Interventional Center, adding capacity to serve a greater number of patients facing cardiac emergencies. Later that year, the hospital received approval from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) to perform emergency angioplasty for patients experiencing a heart attack, significantly improving time to treatment and allowing patients who show signs of a heart attack to get immediate care locally. In 2023, CentraState received licensing approval by the NJDOH to perform elective coronary angioplasty, enabling CentraState cardiologists to perform diagnostic testing, and if needed, necessary treatment during one visit. When advanced cardiovascular surgery is needed, CentraState patients are seamlessly connected to Atlantic Health System's Morristown Medical Center. Morristown is nationally ranked among the top 50 hospitals for heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.

"We are incredibly proud of our cardiovascular service team at CentraState for achieving the HeartCARE Center designation from the ACC," said Jatinchandra Patel, DO, interventional cardiologist and medical director of CentraState's Robertshaw Cardiovascular Interventional Center. "This milestone was driven by the leadership of Amy Quinlan, Director of Cardiovascular Services, and Athena Farella, Quality and Accreditation Administrator for Cardiovascular Services. Earning this distinction underscores not only the tremendous growth of our cardiac program, but our focus on quality and delivering the highest level of patient care."

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. CentraState has proven to be a forward-thinking institution with goals to advance the cause of sustainable quality improvement.

The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like CentraState 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.

For more information about the American College of Cardiology, visit their website.