The American College of Cardiology has recognized St. Francis Hospital; 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. St. Francis was awarded Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI in September based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who come to the Cardiac Cath Lab. St. Francis is the first hospital in the Chattahoochee Valley to receive this esteemed accreditation.
 
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.
 
“St. Francis Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to providing the Chattahoochee Valley with excellent heart care,” said Phillip D. Levy, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award St. Francis 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.
 
“As the first Cardiac Cath Lab in the Chattahoochee Valley to earn this prestigious accreditation, we are dedicated to making communities healthier, and this means continually evaluating our services to identify opportunities to provide better patient care. Earning this accreditation is a reflection to the commitment our clinical team, staff, and physicians have ensuring high quality care is provided to patients,” said Dan Jones, Chief Executive Officer of St. Francis Hospital.
 
St. Francis Hospital also received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC), the accrediting arm of the American College of Cardiology. Since 1974, St. Francis Heart Hospital has been dedicated to providing cardiothoracic and vascular care. St. Francis is the region’s premier resource for the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease providing numerous cardiac services, including heart surgery, including coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacement, and aortic aneurysm repair, and electrophysiology services.