PHCC: Raising the Quality of Care for All PH Patients

At PHA’s 2014 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions in Indianapolis this June, patients, caregivers and medical professionals will have opportunities to learn and share additional information about the PHCC initiative. 

 

PHA is pleased to announce a new chapter in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary hypertension: the PHA-Accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Care Centers (PHCC) initiative. Since 2011, the PHA Scientific Leadership Council (SLC) and a subcommittee, led by Dr. Murali Chakinala and including more than 40 physicians, non-physician clinicians, patients and caregivers, have sought to develop a program to identify medical centers with special expertise in treating PH. The primary goal of this program is to raise the overall quality of care and outcomes in patients with this life-threatening disease. 

At PHA, we frequently receive inquiries from cardiologists and pulmonologists who are interested in treating PH but are unsure how to organize a robust PH program correctly and efficiently. We now have a resource to provide them! In the near future, medical centers treating pulmonary hypertension will be invited to apply to become a PHA-Accredited PH Care Center. Successful applicants will be placed into one of two levels of accreditation based on the depth of all resources available to the PH program. These levels will be defined as: 

• PHA-Accredited Center of Comprehensive Care (CCC): a highly organized, full-time PH center that proficiently evaluates PH patients based on published evidence-based guidelines and provides expert treatment of patients with all of the FDA-approved therapies. CCCs also make important contributions to PH research and education
• PHA-Accredited Regional Clinical Program (RCP): a regional PH Center that proficiently evaluates PH patients and provides expert treatment with all non-infused therapies. An RCP must collaborate with its regional CCCs by referring patients who may benefit from opportunities unavailable at the RCP, including the initiation of infused therapies and participation in clinical trials.

What Does the PHCC Initiative Mean to Me?

PHCC is meant to be another tool in your fight against PH. When fully implemented, PHCC will be a network of expert clinicians who you can either see directly or who your medical team can contact when optimizing your care. This includes a cohesive medical team, verification that diagnoses are made correctly and appropriate treatment started, as well as explicit institutional support for the pulmonary hypertension program.

View the full criteria list for Centers of Comprehensive Care and Regional Clinical Programs. Applications are expected to open and full site visits to begin in the second half of 2014, and we anticipate that it will be several years before all qualified and interested sites have an opportunity to be processed for accreditation.

Where Can I Go for More Information? 

• Online: The PHCC website is regularly updated with more information on the initiative and what it means for you.
• An upcoming webinar: Drs. Michael McGoon, Erika Berman-Rosenzweig and Murali Chakinala will lead a webinar on April 30, 2014, to discuss the PHCC initiative. There will be time for Q&A at the end. Register for this webinar now. If you are unable to join, a recording of the webinar will be placed in PHA Classroom. 
• PHA's 2014 International PH Conference: During Conference in Indianapolis this June, we will have even more opportunities to share additional information about the PHCC. Register for Conference now.

Written by:
Michael Gray, Director of Medical Services, PHA

Olivia Onyeador, PHCC Program Manager, PHA

Posted by:
Kristie Link, Publications Intern, PHA