The Medical Center at Bowling Green receives American College of Cardiology Accreditation
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized The Medical Center at Bowling Greenfor its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. The Medical Center at Bowling Greenwas awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Resuscitation based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.
“We are proud to receive the ACC’s accreditation as a Chest Pain Center with PCI and Resuscitation,” said Dr. Muhammad Akbar, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, Interventional Cardiologist at Med Center Health. “The Medical Center at Bowling Green has maintained accreditation with the ACC since 2007 and has continued its efforts to achieve higher levels of accreditation in an effort to bring world class standards of care to our community. This accreditation means better patient outcomes, shorter hospital stays for our patients, and a more collaborative and efficient work environment for our team. We continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our Southcentral Kentucky community receives care second to none.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 730,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are more likely to have atypical symptoms. Other heart attack symptoms include, but are not limited to, tingling or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweat, unusual tiredness, heartburn-like feeling, nausea or vomiting, sudden dizziness and fainting.
PCI is also known as coronary angioplasty. It is a non-surgical procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary arteries with a balloon to relieve symptoms of heart disease or reduce heart damage during or after a heart attack.
Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms. As required to meet the criteria of the accreditation designation, they comply with standard Chest Pain Center protocols and are equipped with a robust hypothermia program for post-cardiac arrest treatment. These facilities also maintain a “No Diversion Policy” for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.
“The Medical Center at Bowling Greenhas demonstrated its commitment to providing Southcentral Kentucky with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award The Medical Center at Bowling Greenwith Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation.”
Hospitals receiving Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation from the ACC must take part in a multi-facetedclinical process that involves: completing a gap analysis; examining variances of care, developing an action plan; a rigorous onsite review; and monitoring for sustained success. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes and adopting best practices in the care of patients experiencing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts leading to better patient education and improved patient outcomes.
The Medical Center at Bowling Green is a 373-bed facility providing high-quality healthcare services to the area since 1926. We offer the widest range of specialties and the strongest partnerships with the area’s most respected educational institutions. We have 4 cath lab suites perform over 1,400 PCI procedures and over 8,600 procedures within the cardiac cath lab.
The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like The Medical Center at Bowling Greenaccess to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including emergency treatment of heart attacks.