The intent of the Chest Pain Center and Heart Failure Accreditation process is to improve the care of the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and heart failure (HF) patient. SCPC believes this is best accomplished by using the principles found in the science of process improvement.

Process improvement is an on-going effort to identify and improve processes. It requires an understanding of "change" and the ability to accept that change is inevitable, mistakes will occur, and whatever is done can always be done more efficiently. There will continually be new research that translates into improved methods of caring for patients, and the need to stay abreast of these changes in order to improve patient outcomes is a necessity.

The benefits to the facility that implements process improvement initiatives are many. They include streamlining patient throughput, resulting in a reduction in the time it takes for the patients to receive treatment, and decreasing costs by providing efficient and effective care that is void of duplication and waste. Process Improvement allows for consistent training and education, improves patient satisfaction, decreases liability exposure, and improves work performance.