St. Joseph’s Hospital Receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation

Contact: Scott M. Larson
larsons@sjchs.org
912-819-8139

February 14, 2013

St. Joseph’s Hospital is the first in the region to receive full accreditation as a Chest Pain Center with PCI from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.

“This accreditation shows our commitment to getting the fastest and best treatment to chest pain and heart attack patients,” said Janet Longenberger, Director of the Heart Hospital at St. Joseph’s Hospital. “The cardiologists, hospital staff and EMTs all worked hard to refine their processes to obtain this accreditation and that will benefit the patients.”

St. Joseph’s Hospital, part of the St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System, demonstrated a significant reduction in the time it takes to receive treatment for chest pain as well as accuracy and effectiveness of the treatment.

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 people dying annually of heart disease. More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. SCPC’s goal is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time that it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.

The Accredited Chest Pain Center’s protocol-driven and systematic approach to patient management allows physicians to reduce time to treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack, when treatments are most effective, and to better monitor patients when it is not clear whether or not they are having a coronary event. Such observation helps ensure that patients are neither sent home too early nor needlessly admitted.

With the increase in chest pain centers came the need to establish standards designed to improve the consistency and quality of care provided to patients. SCPC’s accreditation process ensures that centers meet or exceed quality-of-care measures in acute cardiac medicine.

The Accredited Chest Pain Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and undergoing an onsite review by a team of SPCP’s accreditation review specialists. Key areas in which an Accredited Chest Pain Center must demonstrate expertise include the following:
• Integrating the emergency department with the local emergency medical system
• Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients quickly
• Effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms
• Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
• Ensuring the competence and training of Accredited Chest Pain Center personnel
• Maintaining organizational structure and commitment
• Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care
• Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack

About The Heart Hospital at St. Joseph’s Hospital
St. Joseph's/Candler is the leading provider of diagnostic and therapeutic minimally invasive cardiac procedures in the region, serving more than 3,500 patients each year. We offer all cardiovascular services except heart transplant. The Heart Hospital provides the community with a blend of highly qualified and competent physicians and staff, cutting-edge technology, and a commitment to compassionate, quality care.

St. Joseph’s Hospital is part of the St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System, is a national Magnet-designated facility for nursing excellence, with a focus on the latest technologies and research. Its comprehensive network includes centers of excellence for oncology, cardiovascular, neurosciences, women’s and children’s services, orthopedics and a variety of other disease specialties. Comprised of two of the oldest continuously operating hospitals in the United States, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Candler Hospital, this not-for-profit health system serves 33 counties in southeast Georgia and the South Carolina Low Country and is the largest and only faith-based institution in the region. For more information, visit www.sjchs.org.

About the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) is an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction. As the only cross-specialty organization, SCPC provides the support needed for individual hospitals and hospital systems to effectively bridge existing gaps in treatment by providing the tools, education and support necessary to successfully navigate the changing face of healthcare. For more information on SCPC, accreditation and certification opportunities, visit www.scpcp.org, or call toll free 1-877-271-4176.
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