Jacksonville, FL — HCA Florida Memorial Hospital is proud to be recognized as Jacksonville’s first COMPREHENSIVE Resuscitation Center of Excellence, a statewide initiative launched in 2022, born out of being a primary goal of the Florida Resuscitation Center Committee, a committee formed to develop recommendations on how to increase the survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest. In order to achieve this recognition, a hospital has to meet the statewide criteria set out by the Committee, which allows the hospital to sign on and participate as a Primary Resuscitation Center of Excellence (PRCE) or a Comprehensive Resuscitation Center of Excellence (CRCE). The hospital has to self-attest to the criteria and reapply every three years to renew the designation,
“We are incredibly proud to be the first hospital in Jacksonville to earn designation as a Comprehensive Resuscitation Center of Excellence,” said Reed Hammond, CEO of HCA Florida Memorial Hospital. “This recognition reflects our deep commitment to the health and safety of our community, and the trust families place in us during life’s most critical moments. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, and our physicians, nurses, and clinical teams are dedicated to ensuring that every patient has access to rapid, high-quality, lifesaving care close to home.”
Cardiac arrest remains a leading killer in the Sunshine State as survival rates remain low despite advances in healthcare technology and in medical care. Each year, approximately 350,000 individuals die from cardiac arrest in Florida, and it remains the third leading cause of death in the United States.
“This designation as a Comprehensive Resuscitation Center of Excellence reflects the strength of our clinical protocols, the expertise of our multidisciplinary teams, and our commitment to delivering evidence-based care at every stage of resuscitation,” said Shilpa Amin, MD, Medical Director of the Emergency Department at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital. “From emergency response through post-cardiac arrest care, every second matters, and this recognition affirms that we are meeting the highest standards to improve survival and neurological outcomes. We remain focused on continuous improvement and collaboration with EMS and community partners to strengthen the entire chain of survival,” Amin continued.
Aside from the requirements inside the four walls of the hospital, there is a strong emphasis on community involvement – to train bystanders in resuscitation intervention efforts. Furthermore, the PRCE or CRCE will be tasked to promote wellness and enhance necessary rehabilitation to cardiac arrest patients and support for their loved ones and caregivers.
“Only about 400 of more than 6,000 hospitals nationwide offer ECMO — placing HCA Florida Memorial Hospital at the forefront of life-saving care as Northeast Florida’s first Comprehensive Resuscitation Center of Excellence. This distinction underscores our leadership in advanced, life-saving care and our relentless commitment to delivering the highest level of treatment to the Jacksonville community every single day,” said Sirisha Talari, MD, Chief Medical Officer of HCA Florida Memorial Hospital.
“We are truly honored to stand alongside partners across Florida in strengthening the chain of survival and improving outcomes for the communities we serve,” said Hammond.