Methodist Hospitals was recently awarded Chest Pain Accreditation by the American College of Cardiology (ACC). ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditation recognizes exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms.
Methodist Hospital’s Chest Pain Coordinator, Shari Slyder, says receiving this accreditation is not just a reflection of the excellence that Methodist Hospital continually strives for; but also represents the expected outcomes for the community we serve, and provides a process for continuous improvement.
Chest Pain Accreditation has helped Methodist Hospitals stay on top of best practices in patient care since 2012, when it first earned the designation. “We’re always striving for the absolute best, and the accreditation just keeps us focused on what that care is. When there aren’t quality indicators in a cardiac program, things are missed. Working as part of an accredited program ensures that we’re always keeping our finger on the pulse and our eye on the prize,” Slyder said.
Methodist has created scorecards that help in monitoring performance against a number of care standards set by the American College of Cardiology. Each year, goals are set that focus on improving outcomes year over year, thus striving for excellence. This level of attention to data continues to improve patient care. The work done to earn accreditation makes an impact on the care of all patients suffering from heart disease and in preventing heart failure
The Methodist multidisciplinary team coordinates efforts with several other specialties that have impact on patient care. This includes Emergency Medical Services, the hospital Emergency Department, catheterization labs, hospitalists, case management teams, physicians and nursing staff on inpatient units, as well as cardiac rehab. Incorporating protocols from pre-hospital care to post-discharge is an integral part of the effort. Collaboration by this team has brought about improvements that have helped the hospital to better save lives, for example by shaving minutes from the time it takes to get a patient with a blocked artery into treatment in the cath lab. “Time is muscle,” says Slyder, “and we strive continuously to keep decreasing the time to open that vessel by improving communication amongst the multiple disciplines.”
Chest Pain Accreditation standards also foster an emphasis on community outreach. One important area of education for the lay community is the ability to perform hands-only CPR and early heart attack care. By teaching community members these skills, Methodist experts help people to understand what to do in a situation that would otherwise be chaotic.
“This accreditation is in keeping with our mission to provide compassionate quality healthcare services to all those in need. Our outstanding team recognizes the importance of rapid diagnosis and treatment of patients who experience acute coronary syndrome systems, and our dedicated professionals work diligently to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the care we provide these patients,” said Heart and Vascular Institute Director Roxanne Wicklund.
Another aspect of excellence is patient experience. Methodist Hospitals always strives to provide excellence in patient experience and this accreditation is an important tool in that effort. Patients benefit from patient-centered care from the second they arrive at Methodist Hospitals due to this accreditation.
“Patients can choose where they want to go for their care. They should be offered the best level of care based on the highest standards. This helps to distinguish us from other facilities that provide similar care in the region,” Slyder said.
To learn more about Methodist Hospitals or the chest pain accreditation, please visit: https://methodisthospitals.org/services/heart-and-vascular-institute/
