Norman Regional Hospital Achieves New Status as an Accredited Chest Pain Center

Norman, OK – Norman Regional's hospital has received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC), 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.

The Norman Regional Hospital is the first hospital in the Oklahoma City metro area to have achieved this level of national recognition.

"We are so proud to announce that the Hospital has earned Chest Pain Accreditation with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. To become an accredited chest pain center, the hospital underwent a rigorous evaluation to ensure that we evaluate and treat our chest pain patients with integrated recommendations for best practice," said Dr. Archana Gautam, interventional cardiologist and the Chest Pain Accreditation Co-Medical Director. "This facility has proven that its staff understands the importance of delivering excellent cardiovascular care in a timely fashion."

Hospitals that have received SCPC accreditation have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. They emphasize the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. They also serve as a point of entry into the healthcare system to evaluate and treat other medical problems, and they help to promote a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to reduce the risk factors for heart attack.

To become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Norman Regional Hospital engaged in rigorous evaluation by SCPC for its ability to assess, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. To the community served by Norman Regional this means that processes are in place that meet strict criteria aimed at:

• Reducing the time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment
• Treating patients more quickly during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved
• Monitoring patients when it is not certain that they are having a heart attack to ensure that they are not sent home too quickly or needlessly admitted to the hospital

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death in Oklahoma. "Our state has the third highest death rate from cardiovascular disease in the United States. Combating these dire statistics with exceptional and quality-driven care is the goal of the Norman Heart Hospital," said Richie Splitt, FACHE, vice president and chief administrative officer at the Hospital campus.

"This accreditation is one more tool to be used in the fight. It further demonstrates our commitment to quality care and ending heart disease," said Splitt. "Achieving this honor required an immense level of participation between nursing, physicians and hospital administration - all working for the common goal of quality cardiovascular patient care," stated Phil Regas, FACHE, Cardiovascular Service Line Director.

Norman Regional Hospital’s state-of-the-art healthcare encompasses the entire continuum of care for the heart patient and includes such focal points as dispatch, emergency medical response including EMSSTAT (an ambulance service owned and operated by NRHS), its Chest Pain Center/emergency department, cath lab, the Norman Heart Hospital, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, cardiac surgery, and a community outreach program.

Since most cardiac patients arrive at the hospital through the Emergency Department or EMSStat, these departments also played a key role in accreditation.

"I am truly proud of the enormity of the effort that everyone put forth to see this to fruition," said Dr. Marcia Hoos-Reinke, Chest Pain Center Emergency Physician and Chest Pain Accreditation Co-Medical Director. "It is an amazing accomplishment of which I am proud to have gotten to participate. I want to thank everyone for their dedication to this goal and their continuing desire to serve our hospital system and community."

By becoming an Accredited Chest Pain Center, the Norman Regional Hospital has enhanced the quality of care for the cardiac patient and has demonstrated its commitment to higher standards. Dr. Gautam stated," the hospital's work is not done. Its doctors and administration also want to educate the public on the warning signs of heart disease and the importance of calling 9-1-1 in a medical emergency." "Our next goal is to increase community awareness of heart attack symptoms so they do not delay seeking medical attention where every minute counts."

Norman Regional's Hospital believes that early recognition can lead to early detection. Education about Early Heart Attack Care (EHAC) awareness is fully supported by this organization. For more information about EHAC please refer to www.deputyheartattack.org

About Norman Regional's Hospital and Norman Regional Health System

Norman Regional Health System is a multi-campus system that serves the healthcare needs of south central Oklahoma. It is currently comprised of an acute-care facility, Norman Regional Hospital, on Porter Avenue, and the Hospital, located on Interstate 35 and Tecumseh Road. Norman Regional Hospital is licensed for 324 beds and offers a full range of services including emergency care, oncology, an intensive care unit, surgery and more. The Hospital campus is licensed for 136 beds. It features the services of cardiovascular, spine and orthopedics, women’s and children’s and more. The Hospital is also the home of the Chest Pain Center and the Norman Heart Hospital. In 2014, The Health System is scheduled to break ground on a new facility in Moore, Oklahoma.

About the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care

The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) is an international not-for-profit organization whose mission is to transform 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 Society, SCPC provides the support needed for 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. For more information on SCPC, accreditation and certification opportunities, visit www.scpcp.org, or call toll free 1-877-271-4176.

Learn more about Norman Regional's Chest Pain Center.