As the first accredited center in the state, this recognition highlights UNC’s leadership in multidisciplinary pulmonary embolism care and commitment to improving patient outcomes.
The University of North Carolina has been officially designated as a Comprehensive Care Pulmonary Embolism Center of Excellence™ by The Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) Consortium®. This national organization is dedicated to advancing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pulmonary embolism (PE).
The accreditation recognizes UNC’s successful completion of a rigorous review process evaluating excellence in pulmonary embolism care, multidisciplinary collaboration, quality improvement, and patient-centered outcomes. This distinction places UNC among a select group of institutions nationally recognized for leadership in PE management and innovation.
Pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by blood clots in the lungs, requires timely, coordinated, and evidence-based care. As a newly designated PE Center of Excellence, and the first in North Carolina, UNC joins 20 PE Centers connected through a national network to establish best practices, advance research, improve education, and drive better outcomes for patients affected by PE.
“This designation reflects the tremendous dedication and collaboration of our multidisciplinary teams who work every day to deliver exceptional care to patients with pulmonary embolism,” said Dr. Joe Rossi, Professor of Medicine in the UNC Division of Cardiology, who spearheaded this effort. “Achieving this recognition reinforces our commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and advancing the future of patient care.”
The PERT Consortium noted that the accreditation represents more than excellence in current clinical practice—it also recognizes organizations committed to shaping the future of pulmonary embolism care through data-driven medicine, collaboration, research studies, and ongoing quality advancement.
As a Comprehensive Care Center PE Center of Excellence, UNC will continue building upon its strengths in coordinated care delivery, research, education, and innovation to further enhance outcomes for patients across North Carolina and beyond.
“The collaboration between medical providers of different specialties optimizes the management of patients with various severities of pulmonary embolism,” said Dr. Stephan Moll, Professor of Medicine in the UNC Division of Hematology, who specializes in the treatment of blood clots. “It enables optimized acute management of the patient with PE, as well as ensuring appropriate longer-term follow-up”.
To that end, UNC recently recruited Dr. W. Cameron McGuire, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the UNC Division of Pulmonary Medicine, who has started a formal “UNC Post-PE Clinic” to optimize follow-up for patients with PE.
“This accreditation is a source of pride for our institution,” said Dr. Darren DeWalt, Chair of the UNC Department of Medicine. “External validation confirms that we are moving in the right direction while challenging us to continue evolving and improving care for the future.”
About The PERT Consortium®
The PERT Consortium® is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to improving the care and outcomes of patients with pulmonary embolism through education, research, collaboration, and evidence-based best practices.