Allina's United Hospital designated an Accredited Chest Pain Center
ST. PAUL, Minn. 10/05/2011--Allina's United Hospital has been designated an Accredited Chest Pain Center by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. The accreditation recognizes the collaboration and commitment of United Hospital's Emergency Department, emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and other medical personnel dedicated to rigorous and peer reviewed processes proven to reduce mortality and morbidity from heart disease.
"People tend to wait when they think they might be having a heart attack, and that’s a mistake," said Nathan Anderson, MD, United Hospital Emergency Department Medical Director. "The average patient arrives in the emergency department more than two hours after the onset of symptoms, but what they don’t realize is that the sooner a heart attack is treated, the less damage to the heart and the better the outcome for the patient."
United Hospital's state-of-the-art healthcare encompasses the entire continuum of care for the heart patient. It includes such focal points from EMS dispatch and ambulance service, United Hospital's new state-of-the-art Peter J. King emergency department, cath lab, United's quality assurance plan, and the hospital's community outreach program. By becoming an Accredited Chest Pain Center, United Hospital has enhanced the quality of care for the cardiac patient and has demonstrated its commitment to higher standards.
"Recognition by the Society of Chest Pain Centers is strong indication of the extensive and coordinated effort we put into caring for our chest pain patients," said Daniel Foley, MD, United Hospital Medical Director. "Our SCPC accreditation means that, from the time the paramedics reach them through their time with us at United Hospital, we are able to provide our patients with state-of the art care, and that means we're saving lives and improving the health of our patients at United."
The Chest Pain Accreditation recognizes the extension of leading-edge processes to all types of chest pain, not just documented heart attacks.
The accreditation is further recognition of the daily seamless collaboration of the United Heart & Vascular Clinic, United Hospital Emergency Department personnel and EMS professionals to deliver state-of-the-art, evidence-based emergency cardiac services in a time-critical manner.
"Care for chest pain patients starts long before they arrive at the hospital emergency room," said Mark Dascalos, Allina Health Emergency Medical Services ambulance operations manager. "We work closely with the specialists at United and we're proud to be part of the reason United has won accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers. This is quite a milestone for United and reflects well on all of us."
To receive the Chest Pain Accreditation, the Society of Chest Pain Centers reviews a hospital's standards in emergency assessment of patients with acute coronary syndromes, functional facility design, personnel competencies and training, process improvement, organizational structure and its community outreach efforts.
Many heart attacks present with identifiable symptoms prior to serious damage. Standardization of diagnoses and treatments has been shown to lead to increased myocardial salvage and better short and long-term outcomes.
About United Hospital
United Hospital, the largest hospital in the Twin Cities east metro area, provides a full range of health care and is recognized nationally and locally for its expertise and care. United Hospital serves more than 200,000 patients and their families each year.
United Hospital is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a not-for-profit system of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina owns and operates 11 hospitals, more than 90 clinics and specialty care centers, and health care services, including home care, hospice and palliative care, oxygen and medical equipment, pharmacies and Allina Health Emergency Medical Services. More about Allina and the latest health information can be found online at allina.com.
About the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC)
The Society of Chest Pain Centers is a patient centric non-profit international professional organization focused upon improving care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and other related maladies. Established in 1998, the Society is dedicated to patient advocacy and focusing on ischemic heart disease.
Central to its mission is the question, "What is right for the patient?" In answer, the Society promotes protocol based medicine, often delivered through a Chest Pain Center model to address the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, and to promote the adoption of process improvement science by health care providers. To best fulfill this mission, the Society of Chest Pain Centers provides accreditation to facilities striving for optimum Chest Pain Center care. SCPC is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
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