Peace River Regional Medical Center Receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation with PCI
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (November 26, 2013) – Peace River Regional Medical Center received full accreditation with PCI from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) on November 20, 2013.
“This accreditation is validation of the dedication and commitment the staff at Peace River demonstrate every day in caring for our patients with heart problems,” states Richard H. Satcher, Market Chief Executive Officer.
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 people dying annually of heart disease. More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. SCPC’s goal is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time that it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.
The Accredited Chest Pain Center’s protocol-driven and systematic approach to patient management allows physicians to reduce time to treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack, when treatments are most effective, and to better monitor patients when it is not clear whether or not they are having a coronary event. Such observation helps ensure that patients are neither sent home too early nor needlessly admitted.
With the increase in chest pain centers came the need to establish standards designed to improve the consistency and quality of care provided to patients. SCPC’s accreditation process ensures that centers meet or exceed quality-of-care measures in acute cardiac medicine.
The Accredited Chest Pain Center at Peace River Regional Medical Center has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and undergoing an onsite review by a team of SPCP’s accreditation review specialists. Key areas in which an Accredited Chest Pain Center must demonstrate expertise include the following:
- Integrating the emergency department with the local emergency medical system
- Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients quickly
- Effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms
- Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
- Ensuring the competence and training of Accredited Chest Pain Center personnel
- Maintaining organizational structure and commitment
- Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care
- Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack
About Peace River Regional Medical Center
Peace River Regional Medical Center is a 254-bed Joint Commission Accredited full service hospital that is more than a provider of medical excellence; it is where people come to be cared for and cared about. With expert physicians and staff in cardiovascular services, orthopedics and spine, emergency care, and women’s services and through strategic partnerships with All Children’s Specialists-Johns Hopkins Medicine, Florida Advanced Cardiothoracic (FACT) Surgery, and now Bayfront Health, Peace River is united to bring state-of-the-art care to Florida's Gulf communities. To learn more, visit: www.PeaceRiverRegional.com.
About the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) is an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming 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 organization, SCPC provides the support needed for individual hospitals and 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 www.scpcp.org, or call toll free 1-877-271-4176.
