Abington Memorial Hospital Achieves New Status as Accredited Chest Pain Center
Abington, PA (PRWEB) February 06, 2015 -- Abington Memorial Hospital has received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC), an international not-for-profit organization committed to leading the fight to eliminate heart disease as the number one cause of death worldwide.
Hospitals receiving this accreditation have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack, according to the SCPC. They emphasize the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. They also serve as a point of entry into the healthcare system to evaluate and treat other medical problems, and they help to promote a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to reduce the risk factors for heart attack.
Abington Memorial Hospital engaged in rigorous evaluation by SCPC for its ability to assess, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. To the community served by Abington Memorial 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
“This accreditation recognizes that our staff uses diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation to deliver appropriate and rapid treatment for patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms,” says Andrew S. Fireman, MD, medical director, Chest Pain Center at Abington Memorial Hospital (AMH).
Through our community health education programs, AMH also helps promote healthier lifestyles to reduce risk factors for heart attack.
Abington Memorial Hospital’s state-of-the-art healthcare encompasses the entire continuum of care for the heart patient and includes such focal points as dispatch, Emergency Medical System, emergency trauma center, cardiac catheterization lab, quality assurance plan, and community outreach program. By becoming an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Abington Memorial Hospital has enhanced the quality of care for the cardiac patient and has demonstrated its commitment to higher standards.
About Abington Memorial Hospital
Abington Memorial Hospital is a 665-bed, acute care teaching hospital with a medical staff of more than 1,100 physicians and more than 5,600 employees. These professionals provide medical care and health services to residents of Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. A regional provider, Abington Memorial Hospital has the only Level II accredited trauma center in Montgomery County and offers highly specialized services in cardiac care, cancer care, neurosciences, orthopaedics and maternal/child health.
About the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) is an international not-for-profit organization whose mission is to transform cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction. As the only cross-specialty Society, SCPC provides the support needed for hospital systems to effectively bridge existing gaps in treatment by providing the tools, education and support necessary to successfully navigate the changing face of healthcare. For more information on SCPC, accreditation and certification opportunities, visit http://www.scpcp.org, or call toll free 1-877-271-4176.
Linda Millevoi, Abington Health, http://www.abingtonhealth.org, +1 215-481-2300, [email protected]
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