Chest Pain Center Earns Polk County’s Only Accreditation With Primary PCI and Resuscitation

Lakeland, FL – Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center once again earns a prestigious three-year 

accreditation for its Chest Pain Center from the American College of Cardiology

Accreditation Services. This is the first time the accreditation distinguishes the Medical Center as a Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation, proving exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and providing round-the-clock percutaneous coronary intervention.

Lakeland Regional Health’s Chest Pain Center, part of the Jack and Tina Harrell Institute for Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine, is the longest accredited Chest Pain Center in Polk County and the only one with this special designation.

“Our cardiologists, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons, electrophysiologists, anesthesiologists, specialty-trained cardiac nurses and team members work diligently to hold themselves to a stringent standard of cardiac care,” said Timothy J. Regan, MD, President, Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center/Chief Medical Officer, Lakeland Regional Health. “We are so pleased to offer such a comprehensive and high level of cardiac care at the area’s most established chest pain facility.”

This accreditation is the result of a rigorous onsite evaluation of the Chest Pain Center team’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. Hospitals that earn this specialized accreditation comply with standard Chest Pain Center protocols and are equipped with a robust hypothermia program for post-cardiac arrest treatment. They also maintain a “No Diversion Policy” for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Lakeland Regional Health’s Chest Pain Center has been at the forefront of coordinating the timeliest acute heart attack care possible with Polk County’s Emergency Management Services. Because each minute is critical with heart attack care, this collaboration authorizes paramedics to initiate the call that brings in the on-call cardiac interventional team at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. The national benchmark put forth by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care for acute heart attack care is 90 minutes or less. With the EMS initiative, the Lakeland Regional Health Chest Pain Center consistently treats acute heart attack patients in 40 to 45 minutes.

“Every day, we deliver the very best outcomes for our patients and their families,” said John Canto, MD, FACC, MSPH, Director, Lakeland Regional Health Chest Pain Center. “We constantly evaluate and innovate ways we can offer the timeliest care possible for patients who may be having a heart attack.”

Hospitals receiving Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation 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.

“Lakeland Regional Health has demonstrated its commitment to providing the Lakeland community with excellent heart care,” said Phillip D. Levy, MD, FACC, Chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Lakeland Regional Health with Chest Pain Center Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation.”

PCI is also known as coronary angioplasty. It 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.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 730,000 Americans experience a heart attack each year. As a reminder, heart attack symptoms can include:

  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Tingling or discomfort in one or both arms, back, should, neck or jaw
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cold sweat
  • Unusual tiredness
  • Heartburn-like feeling
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sudden dizziness and fainting

 

Women, however, are more likely to have atypical symptoms or no symptoms at all.

 

About Lakeland Regional Health

Not-for-profit Lakeland Regional Health reaches beyond its hospital walls to promote wellness, education and discovery in new places and new ways, providing a wide range of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services at its Medical Center, Hollis Cancer Center and ambulatory care locations. Lakeland Regional Health earned Most Wired Advanced and Most Wired status four times since 2013 from the American Hospital Association and has earned workplace awards from Forbes, Gallup and Becker’s Hospital Review. Its 892-bed comprehensive tertiary referral hospital, Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, operates the Jack and Tina Harrell Institute for Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine; a Level II Trauma Center; the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children, which includes a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; and the Bannasch Institute for Advanced Rehabilitation Medicine.

About the American College of Cardiology

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org. For more information about ACC Accreditation Services, visit accreditation.acc.org, or call 877.271.4176.

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