CRMC Receives ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation

The American College of Cardiology has once again recognized Cookeville Regional Medical Center for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. Cookeville Regional was awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI this month based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. Cookeville Regional has been an accredited chest pain center since 2008.

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 with Primary PCI Accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24/7 every day of the year. As required to meet the criteria of the accreditation designation, they have streamlined their systems from admission to evaluation to diagnosis and treatment all the way through to appropriate post-discharge care and recommendations and assistance in patient lifestyle changes. In addition, they have formal agreements with other facilities that regularly refer heart attack patients to their facility for primary PCI.

“Cookeville Regional Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the Upper Cumberland with excellent heart care,” said Phillip D. Levy, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award CRMC with Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation.”

Hospitals receiving Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI 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. 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 accreditation 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.

“Our team at Cookeville Regional has worked diligently to streamline care for patients coming in with chest pain,” said Paul Korth, CRMC CEO. “From EMS to the Emergency Department to the Cath Lab, processes have been put into place to expedite care for these patients. Our outcomes show that our patients are receiving state-of-the-art cardiovascular care during that critical window of time when we can save heart muscle during a heart attack.”

The Heart and Vascular Center at Cookeville Regional has provided much needed cardiac and vascular services in the Upper Cumberland.  Since its opening, the Center has grown and expanded to include not only comprehensive diagnostic tests and treatments but also interventional procedures such as angioplasty, stent placement, pacemakers, electrophysiology and arrhythmia procedures, implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation, and cardiothoracic surgery (including beating heart, minimally invasive heart surgeries as well as heart valve repair and replacement). Most recently, structural heart services have been added, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and the Watchman procedure which can reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Some of the most common vascular conditions treated are aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease.

Boasting a well- trained medical staff specializing in treating heart and vascular conditions, The Heart and Vascular Center at Cookeville Regional is staffed by board certified cardiologists, vascular surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiothoracic anesthesiologists who are supported by a team of healthcare professionals who are specifically trained in the field of cardiac and vascular care.

The ACC and American Heart Association are collaborating to offer U.S. hospitals like Cookeville Regional access to a comprehensive suite of co-branded 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.

About the American College of Cardiology

The American College of Cardiology is 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 leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications.

For more information about ACC Accreditation Services, visit accreditation.acc.org, or call toll-free 1-877-271-4176.