Pulmonary Hypertension Program earns Regional Clinical Program (RCP) accreditation
The Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Program has proudly earned Regional Clinical Program (RCP) accreditation from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA).
This clinic treats children with elevated pressure in the blood vessels connecting their heart and lungs. Families benefit from consulting both cardiology and pulmonology specialists simultaneously and are supported by a team of physicians, a nurse practitioner and a nurse coordinator who helps manage the child's complex needs, from medication pre-approvals to arranging in-home equipment.
“One of the greatest strengths of our program is the partnership between cardiology and pulmonology. Dr. Birnbaum from cardiology is our program director, and Dr. Singh from pulmonology is our co-director. This collaboration truly sets us apart as a PH program,” said Kate Carp, RN, PH nurse coordinator. “We conduct joint inpatient rounds and outpatient clinics, allowing both specialties to maintain ongoing communication and collaboration in providing quality, seamless care. Families appreciate the convenience of consulting with two specialties in one visit, ensuring everyone is aligned on the plan for their child.”
Brian Birnbaum, MD, PH program director, emphasized the importance of patient-centered care in seeking RCP accreditation, “Accreditation helps us provide the strongest clinical care to our patients and families. We aim to provide excellent PH care, and accreditation helps to exemplify that. It lets our patients see that we want to remain at the forefront of developments in the pediatric PH world.” Kate Carp, RN, added, “On a practical level, seeking accreditation has motivated us to improve PH-related education for staff and establish written guidelines and protocols reflecting the specialized care we provide.”
The accreditation was awarded based on a variety of factors, including the quality and depth of resources available for expert care of PH patients and the array of therapies offered by the center.