Catholic Health Launches St. Francis Heart Center HEARTsafe Accreditation Program

Catholic Health today announced the launch of its St. Francis Heart Center “HEARTsafe” accreditation program, a public health initiative recognizing communities and organizations across Long Island that take proactive measures to address out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The Village of Rockville Centre, New York, and Molloy University have been awarded the inaugural HEARTsafe designations.

Developed in collaboration with multiple community partners, including Molloy University, the St. Francis Heart Center HEARTsafe accreditation program is a multi-pronged initiative to ensure the health, safety and well-being of Long Islanders, raising awareness of the importance of CPR training and establishing evidence-based best practices that equip communities with the skills and tools needed to respond to OHCA cases.

“Public health has always been at the core of Catholic Health’s mission,” said Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO, MBA, president and CEO of Catholic Health. “St. Francis Heart Center’s renowned cardiovascular care has saved countless lives across Long Island, and we’re proud to launch our HEARTsafe accreditation program to further promote heart health across our region, with our partners at Rockville Centre and Molloy University setting an incredible example. Getting out into the community and empowering people to take charge of their health is how we prepare for emergencies, stay ahead of illness and bend the disease curve.”

To earn St. Francis Heart Center HEARTsafe accreditation, an eligible organization must demonstrate a comprehensive commitment to outstanding community and/or academic response to OCHA incidents through CPR training and increasing access to public Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to improve OCHA outcomes. Depending on the number of individuals who complete CPR training and AEDs installed, a community, school campus or workplace can receive St. Francis Heart Center HEARTsafe accreditation at the gold, silver or bronze level.

Throughout the two-year designation, a St. Francis Heart Center HEARTsafe steering committee will guide accredited organizations to ensure sustained engagement, with a rigorous review at the end of the period to assess adherence to criteria and determine whether to renew HEARTsafe status.

To kick-off the St. Francis Heart Center HEARTsafe program, Catholic Health and Molloy University held a launch event to officially recognize Rockville Centre as a HEARTsafe Community and the university as a HEARTsafe Campus.

“At Molloy University, our mission is rooted in service, compassion and the well-being of the communities we call home,” said James Lentini, PhD, president of Molloy University. “Being recognized as a St. Francis Heart Center HEARTsafe Campus reflects our deep commitment to public health, education and preparedness. Through our partnership with Catholic Health, we are empowering our students, faculty, staff and neighbors with lifesaving skills that can make a critical difference in moments of emergency and ultimately help save lives across Long Island.”

“The safety and well-being of our residents has always been our village’s top priority,” said Francis X. Murray, mayor of Rockville Centre. “It’s an honor to receive accreditation as a HEARTsafe Community in recognition of our work to promote heart health and bolster emergency response across Rockville Centre. Catholic Health has been a valued partner of ours for decades, and we look forward to continue working together for the ongoing health of our community.”