Merit Health Natchez Recognized for Excellence with ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditation
11/21/2017
NATCHEZ, Miss. –November 21, 2017 — The American College of Cardiology has recognized Merit Health Natchez for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. Merit Health Natchez was awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation in August 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.
Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms. 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.
“ACC Accreditation Services is proud to bestow Chest Pain Center Accreditation on Merit Health Natchez,” said Abraham Joseph, vice president of ACC Accreditation Services. “We commend the hospital for its demonstrated commitment to providing the Miss-Lou region with excellent cardiac care.”
Hospitals receiving Chest Pain Center 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.
“This accreditation is the result of a tremendous team effort of directors and leaders in our emergency, telemetry and Intensive Care areas, as well as physicians and local emergency medical services and responders,” said Eric Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of Merit Health Natchez. “This team demonstrated commitment, dedication, passion and expertise to achieve this accreditation, and I commend them for bringing this level of excellence to our cardiac patients,” concluded Robinson.
Tammy Cranford, Chief Quality Officer for Merit Health Natchez, commends Arnold Perkins, the hospital’s Trauma Program Manager and Chest Pain Coordinator and Lynn Wooten, Chest Pain and Trauma Registrar.
“These employees began working on this certification over a year ago and kept our team informed on all the appropriate and necessary steps and actions needed to have a successful accreditation,” said Cranford. “Merit Health Natchez is the area’s only accredited Chest Pain Center. We hope this level of proven competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms from their arrival to us all the way through their diagnosis, treatment and post-discharge care, will bring confidence and peace of mind to our community,” concluded Cranford.
About Merit Health Natchez
Merit Health Natchez is a Joint Commission-accredited hospital with 179-beds and offers a broad range of services including emergency medicine, surgery, cardiology, labor and delivery, radiology, outpatient diagnostic testing, physical therapy and more. Merit Health Natchez holds additional accreditations from American College of Cardiology for Chest Pain Center, the American College of Radiology for mammography, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
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.
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