The UnitedHealth Premium® Cardiac Specialty Centers designation program is a voluntary program that designates facilities offering quality, cost-effective cardiac procedures and cardiac care services. It is designed to help consumers make more informed health care choices.
To be considered for designation as a UnitedHealth Premium Cardiac Specialty Center, hospitals must complete a survey and submit outcomes data to the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and/or the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).
Three types of cardiac programs are considered for designation:
cardiac care (interventional services and emergency care)
cardiac surgery
cardiac rhythm management.
Surveys are evaluated on an ongoing basis. The current designation period began in September 2007 and runs through September 2009.
