News UMC Brackenridge Receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation with PCI

AUSTIN, Texas - (Oct. 3, 2011 ) - University Medical Center Brackenridge has received full accreditation with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC).

This designation means UMCB has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and undergoing onsite review by a team of SPCP accreditation specialists.

Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) core measures are key indicators that Seton tracks to monitor and improve our care of patients with heart attacks. These include the use of key medicines at arrival (such as aspirin), for certain conditions (ACEI or ARB for left ventricular systolic dysfunction), and at discharge (aspirin, beta blockers and statins), as well as smoking cessation counseling for smokers. For fiscal year 2011, UMCB demonstrated 100 percent compliance with all of these measures.

One of the most important measures of heart attack care is time to PCI for patients in urgent need of coronary intervention. The national standard for "door to balloon" time is less than 90 minutes. UMCB's FY11 median time was 62.5 minutes, with 91 percent of patients achieving that time.

Seton Medical Center Williamson and Seton Medical Center Austin also are SCPC-accredited for chest pain. Seton Williamson's median "door to balloon" time is 44 minutes for 100 percent of patients. Seton Austin's is 49 minutes for 100 percent of patients.

An accredited chest pain center's protocol-driven and systematic approach to patient management reduces physicians' 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 unclear whether or not they are having a coronary event. Such observation helps ensure that patients are neither sent home too early nor needlessly admitted.

The increase in chest pain centers led to the need to establish standards designed to improve the consistency and quality of care provided to patients. SCPC's accreditation process ensures that centers meet or exceed quality-of-care measures in acute cardiac medicine.

"Chest pain center accreditation allows UMCB to maintain a competitive advantage, not only among other hospitals nationwide but also with the care provided to its patients. Accredited chest pain centers must be able to demonstrate proficiency in a number of areas, including the effective treatment of low-risk heart attack patients; a functional strategy to provide the finest patient care; and educating the public through community outreach programs. Accreditation is a perfect fit with our vision of being a model, high reliability organization that embraces continuous learning and partners with our physicians to ensure the safest, highest quality care for our patients and their families," said Kate Henderson, MHA, UMCB vice president and chief operating officer.

"The results reaffirm that we are doing great work here at UMCB with our ACS (acute coronary symptom) patients. I would like to thank those that participated directly with the surveyors including Felix McCoy, Kristie Donau, Dr. Stan Rice and Denise Kilbane in the ED, the entire Cath Lab team, including Karla McKinney, Fred Bazaldua and Dr. David Hays, and the 8th floor staff that ran the mock STEMI drill. Everyone did an awesome job answering the questions that the surveyors threw at them. Also, special recognition goes to Eddie Winslow and team, which led the effort to make this survey an awesome success. Thank you all and enjoy this prestigious recognition that you all deserve," said Kevin Craven, MBA. BSN, RN, director of emergency services.

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 people dying annually of heart disease. More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. SCPC's 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.

Key areas in which an Accredited Chest Pain Center must demonstrate expertise include the following:

• Integrating the emergency department with the local emergency medical system
• Assessing, diagnosing and treating patients quickly
• Effectively treating patients with low risk for ACS and no assignable cause for their symptoms
• Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
• Ensuring the competence and training of Accredited Chest Pain Center personnel
• Maintaining organizational structure and commitment
• Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care
• Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack

The Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC) is an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming 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 organization, SCPC provides the support needed for individual hospitals and 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.