The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has again awarded Vanderbilt University Medical Center the designation of Chest Pain Center with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Resuscitation.
Hospitals that earn 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, including appropriate post-discharge care and recommendations and assistance in patient lifestyle changes.
As a regional leader in acute cardiovascular care, this is the seventh consecutive time VUMC has been designated with this accreditation from the ACC, which will last three years.
“We are honored to receive this award as a team,” said Colin Barker, MD, medical director of the Vanderbilt Chest Pain Center and director of Interventional and Structural Cardiology. “This achievement is a testament to VUMC’s collective dedication, hard work and commitment to providing superior cardiovascular care to our patients.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year approximately 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack, and heart disease remains the nation’s leading cause of death for men and women.
Requirements for accreditation include taking part in a multifaceted clinical process that involves completing a gap analysis, examining variances of care, developing a plan of action, a rigorous onsite review and monitoring for sustained success.
“Every second counts in the care of a patient suffering with a heart attack,” said Daniel Muñoz, MD, executive medical director of the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute. “This award highlights the leadership of talented colleagues such as Colin Barker, MD; Andrew DeFilippis, MD; Wendy Daigle, MSN, RN; Jessica B. Williams, RN; and Dana Wilson, RN, MBA, as well as the key involvement of clinical teammates from EMS, Vanderbilt LifeFlight, the Department of Emergency Medicine, and the Division of Cardiology.”
VUMC was first awarded Chest Pain Center accreditation by the ACC in 2006.
