With 44 Accredited Centers, PHA Advances Care for its Rare Disease Community
Silver Spring, Md. (December 14, 2016) – Three additional pulmonary hypertension (PH) programs have demonstrated their ability to properly diagnose and manage pulmonary hypertension patients in need of complex care. The Pulmonary Hypertension Program at the University of Chicago, Pulmonary Hypertension & Dyspnea Center at the University of Utah and the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program at the University of Washington are the latest centers to receive accreditation as PHCC Centers of Comprehensive Care (CCC) from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA). With these latest accreditations, 44 centers in 27 states have received the designation since PHA launched the program three years ago.
PH is increased pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs. It is a chronic and life-changing disease that can lead to right heart failure and death. Common symptoms of PH can include shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain. Consequently, the disease is often misdiagnosed and treated as another illness, such as asthma or COPD. Delays in diagnosis and treatment of this progressive disease can be deadly. Once considered rapidly fatal, some types of PH can now be treated with many targeted treatment options.
PHCC accreditation criteria is based on key measures of care for PH patients. These measures include the program’s overall commitment to PH patients, scope of services provided and expertise of its care team. PHA is phasing the accreditation over the course of three to four years to foster collaboration between the Centers of Comprehensive Care (CCC) and Regional Clinical Programs (RCP). The PHCC initiative advances PHA’s mission of extending and improving the lives of people living with PH.
Since the launch of the PHCC program in 2014, 39 adult and five pediatric centers have earned accreditation. PHA’s Scientific Leadership Council (SLC) and various PHCC leadership set the criteria for PHCC accreditation. The SLC is composed of 28 global leaders in the field of pulmonary hypertension, including healthcare professionals and research scientists in medical centers recognized for excellence in care for patients with PH. A full list of accredited centers can be located at the following pages: PHCC Accredited Adult Centers and PHCC Accredited Pediatric Centers.
About the Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is the country’s leading pulmonary hypertension organization. Commemorating its 25th anniversary in 2016, PHA’s mission is to extend and improve the lives of those affected by PH; its vision is a world without PH, empowered by hope. PHA achieves this by connecting and working together with the entire PH community of patients, families; healthcare professionals and researchers. For more information and to learn how you can support PH patients, visit www.PHAssociation.org and connect with PHA on Twitter @PHAssociation and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PulmonaryHypertensionAssociation.
###
PRESS CONTACT:
