KCH - An Accredited Chest Pain Center

KCH is an Accredited Chest Pain CenterAn Accreditation Review Committee from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care reviewed a report from an onsite review team and has determined that Knox Community Hospital is deserving of full accreditation as a Chest Pain Center as of December 2021.

What Is An Accredited Chest Pain Center?

Hospitals awarded this designation have Primary PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) available 24/7, every day of the year. This means they have a call team for cardiac cath lab staff and an interventional cardiologist who arrive at the facility within 30 minutes of STEMI activation.

"A complete blockage of a coronary artery means you suffered a STEMI heart attack – which stands for ST-elevation myocardial infarction." (heart.org)

These facilities have formal agreements with facilities that regularly refer STEMI patients for primary PCI. They will also have mapped their STEMI processes to maximize efficiency, leading to quicker treatment and improved outcomes. This includes:

  • The ED physician has the authority to activate the cath lab
  • A One-Call Activation System
  • No STEMI Diversion Policy
  • Formalized backup protocol for simultaneous STEMI Activations or when the lab is "down."
  • Defined roles and responsibilities for all STEMI team members

“Knox Community Hospital seeks accreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in order to provide better care, not only for our patients with an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), but for our community as a whole.  In achieving this accreditation, it has been a wonderful way to educate not only our community but our staff on EHAC better known as Early Heart Attack Care, and the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.  In over 50% of heart attack cases they have beginnings with early warning signs, by educating our community they can identify these signs and symptoms and potentially save a life, maybe their own life,” said Amy Colopy Chest Pain Coordinator.  

Cardiologist Barry George stated, “Achieving Chest Pain Accreditation is Prima-Facie evidence that we are a top-notch Heart and Vascular Center, and I would challenge any other hospital under 100 beds in the state of Ohio to have a more complete Heart and Vascular program.”

Accreditation means Knox Community Hospital has an enhanced reputation for delivering cardiovascular patient care, including:

  • Better care
  • Better prognoses
  • Better quality of life
  • Faster treatment
  • Better communication

Our team sought accreditation to:

  • Improve patient outcomes
  • Boost CMS quality-of-care measures
  • Decrease lengths-of-stayImprove emergency department throughput
  • Streamline processes across departments
  • Make a positive impact on the bottom line
  • Enhance EMS relationships
Remember:

Never try to diagnose yourself. Always dial 911 if you think you might be having a heart attack. The EMS crew in your ambulance will route you to the right hospital based on your current location.