The American College of Cardiology has recognized Woodland Heights Medical Center for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients who come to a cardiac cath lab for care, including diagnostic catheterizations and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures. Woodland Heights was awarded Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI in August (the first in the deep East Texas area to earn this award) based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who come to the cardiac cath lab. They are the third facility in Texas and 20th in the nation to receive this esteemed accreditation.
Woodland Heights Medical Center is home to the first heart center in deep East Texas. The cardiac program began at the facility more than 30 years ago and through the years has earned numerous awards and accreditations.
Percutaneous coronary intervention 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.
Hospitals that have proven exceptional competency in treating patients who require cardiac catheterization have standardized their assessment process for patients before undergoing catheterization to ensure quality and patient safety. They ensure that care in the procedure room for sedation, infection control, radiation safety, universal protocol, and time out procedures is fully coordinated; and have mastered the appropriate transfer to a cath recovery unit to better monitor and track complications, enhance physician-to-patient communication, patient/family communication, discharge instructions and follow-up information.
“Woodland Heights Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to providing Angelina County and the surrounding counties with excellent heart care,” said Phillip D. Levy, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Woodland Heights with Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI.”
Hospitals receiving Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that involves: completing a gap analysis; examining variances of care; developing an action plan; a rigorous onsite review; and monitoring for sustained success. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes, implementing guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices in the care of cath lab patients. Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts leading to improved patient outcomes.
“This accreditation was definitely a team effort,” states Kyle Swift, CEO of Woodland Heights. “The staff continually works to enhance patient outcome and experience and this accreditation is a respected display of those efforts.”
The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Woodland Heights access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including the cath lab.
