Which is a JC heart failure accountability measure?

• A. ACEI or ARB at discharge
• B. Beta-blocker at arrival
• C. CXR within 1 hour
• D. Lipid panel at admission

Answer: (A)

Joint Commission heart failure accountability measures focus on putting patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction on guideline-directed medical therapy by the time they are discharged. The best answer reflects that: patients should be discharged on an ACE inhibitor or an ARB unless a contraindication or intolerance is documented. This practice has been shown to improve survival and reduce readmissions, and it is specifically assessed at discharge to ensure continuity of care as the patient leaves the hospital.

Starting a beta-blocker at arrival isn’t the measure used for HF accountability. A chest X-ray within one hour is a metric more aligned with acute coronary syndrome workflows, not heart failure quality measures. A lipid panel at admission isn’t specific to heart failure quality metrics and isn’t the focus of JC HF accountability.