Paoli Hospital Gains Chest Pain Accreditation

From Main Line Health:

Paoli Hospital has earned Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC), an international organization dedicated to eliminating heart disease as the number one cause of death worldwide. This recognition means Paoli has achieved a higher-level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack.

“If you’re having a heart attack every second counts,” says Barbara Tachovsky, President, Paoli Hospital. “That means your life may depend on getting the right kind of medical care fast. Fortunately for the residents of Chester County, designation as a Chest Pain Center means Paoli’s team of interventional cardiologists, cardiology and emergency personnel are expertly skilled in rapid response and treatment of heart attacks.”

To become an accredited chest pain center, Paoli Hospital participated in a rigorous evaluation by SCPC for its ability to assess, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. This means Paoli has met 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
• Serving as a point of entry into the healthcare system to evaluate and treat other medical problems
• Promoting a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to reduce the risk factors for heart attack

Paoli Hospital’s commitment to achieving the highest standards in chest pain care encompass the entire continuum of services for the heart patient and includes such focal points as dispatch, Emergency Medical System, emergency department, cath lab, quality assurance, and community outreach.