(Corpus Christi, Texas) – For the third time in a row, CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline has been nationally recognized as a Chest Pain Center with PCI Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC).
The Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) designation is awarded to those facilities which meet rigorous national standards, and which operate a Cardiac Catheterization Lab providing full-service care to patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“Achieving this Chest Pain Accreditation really validates what we do every day,” said Nurse Kristine Hungate, Chest Pain Center Coordinator. “CHRISTUS Spohn Health System is dedicated to providing state of the art care to our patients with Cardiovascular disease. Our partnership with emergency medical services, physicians, nurses and care areas has streamlined the process to meet and exceed National Standards of Excellence.”
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 people dying annually of heart disease. Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is the disease which includes heart attack, chest pain, and angina. More than five-million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain.
“It is important that the community recognizes early signs and symptoms of a heart attack. If you or a loved one experience discomfort in the chest, jaw, back or arm, or perhaps feel short of breath, fatigued, or simply that ‘something is just not right,’ please call 911,” Hungate added. “Timing is everything and we thank you for the opportunity to help save lives in our community.”
To become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Shoreline engaged in a rigorous reevaluation and refinement of its cardiac care processes. The accreditation means CHRISTUS Spohn has demonstrated expertise in areas including:
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
Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
Ensuring the competence and training of Accredited Chest Pain Center personnel
Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack
CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Shoreline’s state-of-the-art heart care encompasses the entire continuum of care for the ACS patient and includes such focal points as dispatch, Emergency Medical System, emergency department, cath lab, CHRISTUS Spohn’s quality assurance plan, and CHRISTUS Spohn’s community outreach program. The Chest Pain Center also recently gained the Dan A. Hughes Family Hybrid Suite, the elite operating and imaging theater is the only one of its kind in South Texas, elevating heart care for Coastal Bend patients.
As an Accredited Chest Pain Center, CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Shoreline ensures that patients who arrive at the hospital complaining of chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack receive the treatment necessary during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved. By becoming an Accredited Chest Pain Center, CHRISTUS Spohn has enhanced the quality of care for the ACS patient and has demonstrated its commitment to higher standards.
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.
CHRISTUS Spohn Health System is the region’s largest health care system consisting of six hospital campuses - CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi (Shoreline, Memorial and South), CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice, CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Beeville and CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Kleberg (Kingsville). The health system is consistently ranked as a leading health system in the area and has received national recognition for several pioneering programs, including cardiac care, clinical excellence and oncology. For more than 100 years, CHRISTUS Spohn has been distinguished by its high caliber staff and affiliated physicians, its comprehensive and innovative services, and its long history of responding to the needs of the community it serves. For additional information, visit our website at www.christusspohn.org