UTSW certified as a Comprehensive Cardiac Center
Only 24 hospitals nationwide have received the designation from The Joint Commission
DALLAS – May 15, 2025 – UT Southwestern Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® as a Comprehensive Cardiac Center (CCC), a certification that represents the highest standard in cardiovascular care.
One of just 24 hospitals in the nation to receive the CCC designation, UTSW has exhibited excellence across the continuum of heart and vascular care – from prevention and diagnosis through treatment and recovery – and met rigorous standards developed by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association (AHA).
“Our clinical and operational teams take great pride in earning the Comprehensive Cardiac Center Certification,” said James de Lemos, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Chief of the Division of Cardiology. “Through hard work and close collaboration, we are committed to elevating cardiovascular care and delivering the best outcomes for our patients.”
UT Southwestern underwent a thorough, onsite review to earn the certification. Reviewers from The Joint Commission evaluated the Medical Center’s clinical operation to ensure it integrated evidence-based and guideline-driven treatments and demonstrated the highest quality of care in the following areas:
- Acute myocardial infarction
- Arrhythmia management
- Cardiac arrest/resuscitation
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Coronary artery bypass
- Diagnostic cardiac catheterization
- Heart failure
- Percutaneous coronary intervention
- ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
- Valve replacement/repair
UT Southwestern also demonstrated excellence in cardiovascular risk identification and disease prevention.
Preparing for the CCC certification process has been a multiyear endeavor, and it has inspired quality improvements across the board for employees and patients, said Michael Jessen, M.D., Chair and Professor of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery at UTSW.
“We established the Cardiovascular Collaborative Care Team as a forum for frontline staff to create a supportive environment and address patient-care concerns, fostering collaboration across specialties,” he said. “Other enhancements have included a 24-7 cardiac night service and a dedicated Cardiac ICU, a cardiovascular patient navigation program, and optimized education materials for patients.”
UT Southwestern went above and beyond the minimum requirements for the CCC certification because it is part of the culture of the institution, and “it is the right thing to do for the patients who have put their trust in us,” said Laura Thielemann, Associate Vice President of Heart and Vascular Services at UT Southwestern. “This recognition reflects the heart of our mission – delivering exceptional, comprehensive care at every step of the patient journey.”
UT Southwestern is ranked among the top 25 programs in the nation for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 Best Hospitals rankings, with “High Performing” designations for multiple procedures and conditions including aortic valve surgery and heart attack, heart bypass surgery, heart failure, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Dr. de Lemos holds the Sweetheart Ball - Kern Wildenthal, M.D., Ph.D., Distinguished Chair in Cardiology.
Dr. Jessen holds the Frank M. Ryburn, Jr., Distinguished Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery and Transplantation.
About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 25 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 23 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 3,200 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 140,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5.1 million outpatient visits a year.