Accreditation Recognizes Hospital’s High-Quality Care Provided to Heart Attack Patients

Washington Adventist Hospital has achieved an important first in Maryland by being recognized nationally for the efficient, effective and rapid treatment of patients suffering from a heart attack, the leading cause of death in the United States.  

The hospital was the first in the state to achieve accreditation as a Cycle IV Chest Pain Center with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention, or angioplasty) from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). A Cycle IV accreditation is currently the highest offered by the SCPC, and emphasizes the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs used in the treatment of patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms.  

“This accreditation recognizes our comprehensive team approach as well as the innovative and high-quality care delivered to heart attack patients at Washington Adventist Hospital,” said Joyce Newmyer, President of Washington Adventist Hospital. “I’m very proud of the physicians and staff that are part of our Emergency and Cardiac teams, and I thank them for their diligence delivering high-quality and compassionate care to their patients.”

To achieve accreditation as a Cycle IV Chest Pain Center with PCI, Washington Adventist Hospital demonstrated its high level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. The accreditation recognizes the use of more efficient and effective evaluations as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment for patients with heart attack symptoms.

Washington Adventist completed a rigorous evaluation by SCPC to appraise its assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting with symptoms of a heart attack. To the community served by Washington Adventist Hospital, 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

"Being an accredited Chest Pain Center recognizes the ongoing collaboration between our Emergency Department, Cardiology team, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers, hospitalists and nurses," said Vincent Hayes, M.D., Medical Director of the hospital’s Chest Pain Center. "Our team has processes in place that ensure rapid assessment and expedited life-saving treatment to each patient who comes to our hospital with chest pain."   EMS providers are an important part of the Chest Pain Center team at Washington Adventist Hospital and all chest pain centers, providing vital patient assessment and stabilization in transit to the hospital.

Each year, more than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease, making it the leading cause of death in the U.S. In addition, more than five million people visit U.S. hospitals each year with chest pain. People experiencing signs of a heart attack, such as tightness in the chest, pain or discomfort in the neck, jaw or arms, or shortness of breath, or fatigue should call 9-1-1 immediately. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, as well as your risk for heart disease, at www.TrustedHeartCare.com.