Lutheran Hospital Receives ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditation

FORT WAYNE – The American College of Cardiology has recognized Lutheran Hospital for its demonstrated expertise and commitment to treating patients with chest pain. Lutheran Hospital was awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI and Resuscitation in November based on onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack, according to the provided release.
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.
Percutaneous coronary intervention (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.
“The American College of Cardiology has independently verified and recognized that the Lutheran Health Network is dedicated to and invested in the ‘Chain of Survival’ for patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome. This begins in the Prehospital Ground and Helicopter EMS system, and extends through the continuum of care in the Emergency Depart-ment, Cardiac Cath Labs, ICU, OR, Telemetry and Cardiac Rehab. It takes a dedicated and coordinated team of multidisciplinary health care providers to support and care for a village, and that is what we have here at Lutheran Hospital,” said Dr. Jack Scott, medical director of the emergency department at Lutheran Hospital.