ChristianaCare’s Center for Heart & Vascular Health has been honored with the HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence award from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for the fifth consecutive year. This prestigious accolade underscores the center’s ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional cardiovascular care.

First awarded in 2020, ChristianaCare’s Center was the first in Delaware to achieve this recognition and remains among the select few hospitals in the U.S. to do so. The award signifies the center’s adherence to rigorous standards, including participation in ACC accreditation programs, national cardiovascular data registries, and quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing care.

Dr. Kirk Garratt, medical director of the Center for Heart & Vascular Health, expressed pride in the team’s achievement. “We are honored to be a regional leader in cardiovascular care, offering state-of-the-art medical, surgical, and minimally invasive procedures,” Dr. Garratt said. “This recognition reflects our team’s dedication to providing top-quality care around the clock, benefiting patients in Delaware and neighboring states.”

The HeartCARE Center designation highlights the center’s commitment to comprehensive process improvement, professional excellence, and community engagement. In addition to the HeartCARE Center designation, ChristianaCare participates in ACC’s chest pain MI with PCI accreditation, cath lab accreditation, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database, further demonstrating its leadership in cardiovascular health.

As one of the largest heart centers on the East Coast, ChristianaCare integrates cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, interventional radiology, cardiology, and interventional nephrology in one location. The center’s expert clinical staff performed nearly 200,000 procedures last year, reinforcing its role as a vital resource for advanced cardiovascular care in the region.