Wlaf1450Tennova Healthcare is pleased to announce that North Knoxville Medical Center has received accreditation as a Chest Pain Center by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), a national organization dedicated to transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health.“Our hospital was awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation based on a rigorous onsite evaluation of our ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack,” said Travis Fawver, D.O., medical director of the emergency department at North Knoxville Medical Center. “This recognition validates our hard work to become a leader in the care of patients with chest pain.”
Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditation have proven a high level of competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms. They have streamlined their systems from admission to diagnosis and treatment all the way through post-discharge care and assistance in patient lifestyle changes.
“Our Chest Pain Center’s protocol-driven and systematic approach to patient care allows us to reduce time to treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack—when such treatments are most effective—and to better monitor patients when it’s not clear whether or not they are having a coronary event,” Dr. Fawver said. “Such observation helps ensure that patients are neither sent home too early nor needlessly admitted.”
According to Clyde Wood, chief executive officer of North Knoxville Medical Center, the hospital has demonstrated its commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding stringent criteria and undergoing an onsite review by a team of ACC accreditation review specialists.
“I am extremely proud of our cardiac and emergency medicine teams,” Wood said. “This accreditation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our doctors and nurses along with local EMS/first responders to provide high quality, evidence-based care right here in Powell.
“For the community, this recognition means peace of mind in knowing that our medical professionals are ready and trained to act quickly when each passing minute counts,” he added.
In addition to the onsite review, hospitals receiving ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditation must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that includes completing a gap analysis, examining variances of care and developing an action plan, and monitoring for sustained success. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes, implementing of guidelines and standards, and adopting “best practices” in the care of individuals experiencing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
“Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack,” said Bassem Abazid, M.D., a cardiologist with Tennova Heart at North Knoxville Medical Center. “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain. However, women are more likely to have atypical symptoms, such as unexplained heartburn, nausea or excessive fatigue.
“Many people tend to wait when they think they might be having a heart attack—and that’s a mistake,” Dr. Abazid added. “Approximately 85 percent of heart muscle damage occurs in the first two hours of a heart attack. Therefore, it’s very important to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack and seek help immediately. The sooner a heart attack is treated, the less damage to the heart muscle and the better the outcome for the patient. Time is muscle.”
In addition to North Knoxville Medical Center, Tennova has accredited Chest Pain Centers at Turkey Creek Medical Center in Farragut and Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Jefferson City.
For more information or to find a doctor, call 1-855-TENNOVA (836-6682) or visit Tennova.com.