May 24, 2011

Saint John’s Heart Care Achieves New Status as Accredited Chest Pain Center

ANDERSON, IN – Saint John’s Health System has received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC), an international organization dedicated to eliminating heart disease as the number one cause of death worldwide. Saint John’s Chest Pain Center is the only cardiovascular program in Madison County to be accredited.

Saint John’s Health System offers the latest technology and clinical expertise for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Madison County residents have access to fast, life-saving treatment for heart attack through the Saint John’s Chest Pain Center, a partnership between Saint John’s Health System, The Care Group Anderson Cardiology, St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana, and StatFlight air medical transportation. Saint John’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab provides sophisticated diagnostic catheterization with the personal attention possible in a smaller facility. Recently upgraded Cardiac Cath technology allows Saint John’s to do more diagnostic and interventional procedures.

Hospitals that have received SCPC accreditation have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. They emphasize the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. They also serve as a point of entry into the healthcare system to evaluate and treat other medical problems, and they help to promote a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to reduce the risk factors for heart attack.

To become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Saint John’s engaged in rigorous evaluation by SCPC for its ability to assess, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. To the community served by Saint John’s, this means that processes are in place that meet strict criteria aimed at:

• Reducing the time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment
• Treating patients more quickly during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved
• Monitoring patients when it is not certain that they are having a heart attack to ensure that they are not sent home too quickly or needlessly admitted to the hospital

“I am extraordinarily proud of our entire team for this remarkable achievement, making Saint John’s the area’s only accredited Chest Pain Center. This achievement clearly evidences our commitment to clinical excellence in the spirit and compassionate caring of our Mission. Patients experiencing chest pain need the effective and efficient care that only an accredited Chest Pain Center can provide.”

Saint John’s state-of-the-art healthcare encompasses the entire continuum of care for the heart patient and includes such focal points as dispatch, emergency department, cath lab, Saint John’s quality assurance plan, and Saint John’s community outreach program. By becoming an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Saint John’s has enhanced the quality of care for the cardiac patient and has demonstrated its commitment to higher standards. As a ministry of St.Vincent Health, Saint John’s is affiliated with St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital and St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana, and extends the expertise of these nationally recognized cardiac programs for local residents when needed. St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana has been ranked # 1 in overall heart care in the state of Indiana for six consecutive years by HealthGrades.

For more information on Saint John’s Heart Care, contact Katy Barrott, manager, Cardiovascular Services and Chest Pain Center, at (765) 683-3103 or kjbarrot@sjhsnet.org.

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About the Society of Chest Pain Centers
Established in 1998, SCPC is a patient-centric nonprofit international organization focused on improving care for patients with heart disease. Central to SCPC’s mission is the question, “What is right for the patient?” In response, SCPC promotes protocol-based medicine, often delivered through a chest pain center model, to address the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndrome and heart failure and to promote the adoption of process improvement science by healthcare providers. To best fulfill this mission, SCPC provides accreditation and education to facilities striving for optimum cardiac care. SCPC is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information on SCPC and accreditation opportunities, visit www.scpcp.org, or call toll free 1-877-271-4176.

For more information contact:
Randy Titus
Marketing and Community Affairs
Saint John’s Health System
765-646-8290
Fax 765-608-2674