Lourdes Awarded Highest Chest Pain Accreditation
In Area

Lourdes is pleased to announce it has been awarded a Cycle IV Certification for Chest Pain, which is the highest accreditation for any hospital in the area.  Cycle IV is the highest level granted by the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC).

“People tend to wait when they think they might be having a heart attack, and that’s a mistake,” states Dr. Jeremy Klope, Lourdes Emergency Department Medical Director. “The average patient arrives in the emergency department more than two hours after the onset of symptoms.”

“The sooner we can open up the artery that is blocked, the more heart muscle is saved.  More lives are saved, and the better the patient’s quality of life will be after that,” says C. David Hogancamp, Lourdes Cardiologist.

Hospitals that have received SCPC accreditation have achieved a higher level of expertise in treating patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. They emphasize the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation, as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. They also serve as a point of entry into the healthcare system to evaluate and treat other medical problems, and they help to promote a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to reduce the risk factors for heart attack.

To become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Lourdes engaged in a rigorous evaluation by SCPC for its ability to assess, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. To the community served by Lourdes, this means that processes are in place that meet 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

Lourdes is a regional health system that includes a 45-acre campus and off-site locations:  Lourdes Hospital, Lourdes Medical Pavilion, Marshall Nemer Pavilion, Home Health/Hospice and Mercy Medical Associates.  Lourdes has extended the healing ministry of Jesus by improving the health of our communities for more than 100 years.  A hospital of 379 licensed beds, Lourdes offers a comprehensive team of physicians covering nearly 40 different specialties.  Lourdes is a member of Catholic Health Partners.  For more information, visit us at elourdes.com.

About the Society of Chest Pain Centers

The Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC) is an international not-for-profit organization whose mission is to transform 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 Society, SCPC provides the support needed for 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.   For more information on SCPC, accreditation and certification opportunities, visit www.scpcp.org or call toll free 1-877-271-4176.