By SALINA POST
The American College of Cardiology recently recognized Salina Regional Health Center for its demonstrated expertise and commitment to treating chest pain patients.
Salina Regional received Chest Pain Center reaccreditation with Primary PCI after a rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 730,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are more likely to have atypical symptoms. Other heart attack symptoms include, but are not limited to, tingling or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweat, unusual tiredness, heartburn-like feeling, nausea or vomiting, sudden dizziness, and fainting.
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty, is a non-surgical procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary arteries with a balloon to relieve symptoms of heart disease or reduce heart damage during or after a heart attack.
Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24/7 every day of the year. To meet the criteria of the accreditation designation, they have streamlined their systems from admission to evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and post-discharge care. They also assist patients with lifestyle changes and maintain formal agreements with other facilities that regularly refer heart attack patients for primary PCI.
“Salina Regional Health Center has demonstrated its commitment to providing north central Kansas with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Salina Regional Health Center with Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation.”
Hospitals receiving Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that involves completing a gap analysis, examining variances of care, developing an action plan, a rigorous onsite review, and monitoring for sustained success.
Improved methods and strategies for patient care include streamlining processes, implementing guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices for patients experiencing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other administrative staff dedicated to better patient education and improved patient outcomes.
“Holding ourselves accountable to meeting high standards raises the bar for care patients receive,” said Joel Phelps, President/CEO at Salina Regional Health Center. “These collaborative team efforts are focused on providing services to patients throughout the region.”
The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Salina Regional Health Center access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services focus on all aspects of cardiac care, including emergency treatment of heart attacks.