Via Christi becomes only Kansas hospital with Cycle III Chest Pain Center accreditation
CONTACT: Roz Hutchinson, director of Communication and Public Relations, Via Christi Hospitals in Wichita, 316-719-3341 or e-mail, Roz_Hutchinson@via-christi.org
WICHITA, JAN.22, 2010 - The Chest Pain Center at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus has received full Cycle III Chest Pain Center accreditation — making it the first hospital in Kansas to successfully undergo review under the newest and most stringent standards.
"Cycle III accreditation requires that you do more than just show how you are meeting the standards," said Saad Ehtisham, senior vice president of Clinical Services and chief nursing officer for the Via Christi Wichita Health Network. "You also must be able to demonstrate improved patient care and outcomes over a period to time. The daily work being done by our physicians and staff has met that test of time."
The Society of Chest Pain Center's extensive on-site review of the Chest Pain Center at Via Christi-St. Francis included review of its:
* Integration with the local emergency medical system
* Ability to assess, diagnosis and treat patients quickly
* Effectiveness in treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms
* Efforts to continuously improve processes and procedures
* Staff competency and training
* Organizational structure and commitment
* Program design and how it promotes optimal patient care
Community outreach and education The Society of Chest Pain Centers is a non-profit international professional organization focused upon improving care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and other related conditions. Its goal is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time that it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.
The Via Christi Chest Pain Center’s protocol-driven and systematic approach to patient management helps reduce time to treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack — when treatments are most effective — and to better monitor patients when it is not clear whether they are having a coronary event. Such observation helps ensure that patients aren't sent home too early or admitted when they don't need to be.
"Our accreditation as the area's only Cycle III Chest Pain Center further reinforces the recognition we've received from other independent quality ratings organizations like HealthGrades, which ranks Via Christi No. 1 in Kansas for cardiac care," said Michalene Maringer, president and chief executive officer of the Via Christi Wichita Health Network.
"That's important for patients and families, who take comfort in knowing that their hospital meets the most stringent standards for assessing, diagnosing and treating patients experiencing chest pain."
