Home Health Heart Failure Certification
Science and guidelines targeted to improve quality of care
![](https://www.heart.org/-/media/Images/Professional/Quality-Improvement/Healthcare-Certification/Home-Health/Home-Health-Cert-Header-Image-800x600v2.jpg?h=600&iar=0&mw=960&w=800&hash=F35BFB9702185CB656859D1725CB620C)
This certification provides a framework for evaluating home health agencies against the American Heart Association’s scientific guidelines for heart failure patients. Certification provides validation that an agency has followed our requirements.
The certification is focused on the Association’s science-based standards including program management, patient and caregiver education and support, care coordination, and clinical management.
The certification provides confidence that:
- An agency's heart failure program is based on standards aligned with American Heart Association science
- The agency is recognized by the American Heart Association, based on professional evaluation criteria designed by heart failure and home care experts
- Care is coordinated from pre-admission through working with the home health agency to discharge
Benefits
For Patients
Knowledge that the home health agency can provide services that are supported by American Heart Association science
Assurance that the home health agency is recognized by the American Heart Association, based on professional evaluation criteria designed by heart failure and home health experts
Confidence their heart failure care is coordinated from pre-admission through working with the home health agency to discharge
![](https://www.heart.org/-/media/Images/Professional/Quality-Improvement/Healthcare-Certification/Home-Health/Patient-Image-475x475v2.jpg?h=475&iar=0&mw=600&w=475&hash=C6AAAB0E5787806511675BE28888C420)
![](https://www.heart.org/-/media/Images/Professional/Quality-Improvement/Healthcare-Certification/Home-Health/Caregiver-Image-475x475.jpg?h=475&iar=0&mw=600&w=475&hash=B0C6C271A8234016BF8773C4F6C49082)
For Certified Agencies
Opportunity to publicize an American Heart Association Certification
Opportunities for increased referrals from acute-care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and physician practices treating patients with heart failure
Membership access to the national collaborating group for Home Health Heart Failure certified agencies on the Healthcare Network of the American Heart Association
Consultative services from American Heart Association staff
For Referral Sources and Insurance Providers
Help Reduce unnecessary readmissions and potential penalties
Help Improve care coordination and communication between the referral source and agencies, in turn enhancing the continuum of care for the patient for improved outcomes
Provide confidence that agency’s heart failure program is based on standards built on American Heart Association science
Opportunity to demonstrate quality of care program through measures and metrics
![](https://www.heart.org/-/media/Images/Professional/Quality-Improvement/Healthcare-Certification/Home-Health/Insurance-Image-475x475.jpg?h=475&iar=0&mw=600&w=475&hash=84C71FF31AD0D695F57FB7AB8666218D)
![stock photo certificate with ribbon](https://www.heart.org/-/media/Images/Professional/Quality-Improvement/Healthcare-Certification/Home-Health/Certificate-Image.jpg?h=343&iar=0&mw=600&w=515&hash=9F67DEED4333BCD2FCF48C8230807E55)
How to Become Certified
Get more information and start your journey to certification today!