Woodlawn Hospital receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation

Woodlawn Hospital has earned Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology, signifying its expertise in quickly assessing, diagnosing and treating patients experiencing potential heart attacks.

The American College of Cardiology has recognized Woodlawn Hospital for its demonstrated expertise and commitment to treating patients with chest pain. Woodlawn Hospital was awarded Chest Pain Center Certification for Critical Access Hospitals in December based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 730,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are more likely to have atypical symptoms. Other heart attack symptoms include but are not limited to tingling or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck, or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweat, unusual tiredness, heartburn-like feeling, nausea or vomiting, sudden dizziness and fainting.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (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.

Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center Certification for Critical Access Hospitals have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have processes in place for immediate transfer to a PPCI-capable hospital or fibrinolytic administration prior to transfer to reduce the patient's mortality risk. 

“Woodlawn Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to providing Fulton, Miami and Marshall counties with excellent heart care,” ACC Accreditation Management Board Chair Deepak L. Bhatt said. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Woodlawn with Chest Pain Center Certification for Critical Access Hospitals.”

Hospitals receiving Chest Pain Center Certification for Critical Access Hospitals 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. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes, implementing of guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices in the care of patients experiencing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Facilities that achieve certification meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts, leading to better patient education and improved patient outcomes.

“It is an honor for our team to receive this accreditation. At Woodlawn, we work daily to earn the right to care for our community with quality-based care that, many times, could result in lifesaving measures. Being a Chest Pain Certified hospital is just one of the many ways we continue to care for our community,” Woodlawn Health Chief Nursing Officer Cathy Lowe said. 
 
The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Woodlawn access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including emergency treatment of heart attacks.

–Woodlawn report