Comprehensive chest pain care & advanced heart attack treatment at St. Joseph’s Hospital
ATTENTION: If you or someone you know is experiencing chest pain, dial 911 immediately. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack can save lives.
St. Joseph’s Hospital is proud to be the first in the region to achieve full accreditation as a Chest Pain Center with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. This distinction demonstrates our commitment to delivering outstanding cardiovascular care to our community. Working in partnership with emergency responders and our connected clinical community groups, we strive to raise awareness of the early signs of heart attacks so that patients receive fast and successful care. This advanced accreditation recognizes our ability to reduce treatment times for chest pain while maintaining the highest standards for accuracy and excellent delivery.
Advanced integration of cardiovascular expertise
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, and St. Joseph’s/Candler delivers swift, systematic care when patients arrive at The Heart Hospital with chest pain. Our Accredited Chest Pain Center has proven its expertise in providing exceptional patient care by meeting and exceeding expectations from a detailed review from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). Key areas in which our Chest Pain Center excels in care include:
- Seamless integration of the emergency department with local emergency medical systems
- Quick assessment, diagnosis and treatment of chest pain
- Effective management of patients without an assignable cause for symptoms
- Continuous improvement of patient safety procedures
- Full spectrum training of Chest Pain Center personnel
- A well-structured organizational commitment to quality care
- Active support of community outreach programs to educate the public on recognizing and responding to heart attack symptoms promptly
New cardiac technology to stabilize heart attack patients
During a heart attack, rapid stabilization of the patient is critical. Complex challenges like irregular heart rhythm, erratic blood pressure, or unstable heart rate can threaten heart function. Our cardiovascular specialists utilize advanced technology to address these challenges, such as the Impella left ventricular assist device. This state-of-the-art tool can support and stabilize the heart's output, performing the heart’s function temporarily while our experts work to open blocked arteries quickly and accurately. This approach ensures patients receive the best possible care and greatly improves their chances of recovery.