Tami Western Chief Quality Officer | Northeast Missouri Rural Health Network
Tami Western Chief Quality Officer | Northeast Missouri Rural Health Network
KIRKSVILLE, MO — The American College of Cardiology has recognized Northeast Regional Medical Center (NRMC) in Kirksville for its capability and dedication in treating patients with chest pain. The center received Chest Pain Center Accreditation following a thorough onsite evaluation of its staff’s skills in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating heart attack patients.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 730,000 Americans experience a heart attack annually. The typical symptom is chest pain or discomfort, although women often experience atypical symptoms. These can include discomfort in arms, back, shoulder, neck, or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweats, unusual tiredness, heartburn-like sensations, nausea, vomiting, sudden dizziness, and fainting.
Hospitals receiving ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditation have demonstrated proficiency in treating heart attack symptoms by enhancing their procedures from admission to post-discharge care. “NRMC has demonstrated its commitment to providing Northeast Missouri with excellent heart care," stated Deepak L. Bhatt, M.D., MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. "ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award NRMC with Chest Pain Center Accreditation.”
The accreditation process involves a comprehensive clinical process including gap analysis, care variance examination, action plan development, a rigorous onsite review, and sustained success monitoring. Improved methods are aimed toward better patient education and outcomes through streamlined processes and best practices application.
“Our goal is to deliver top-notch cardiac care to our community, especially given our location in a rural area,” said Annie Tate, R.N., director of the cardiology service line at NRMC. Tate emphasized the importance of ensuring that advancements in cardiac care, grounded in evidence-based treatment, benefit patients.
The ACC provides a suite of cardiac accreditation services to optimize outcomes and financial performance for U.S. and international hospitals like NRMC. These services emphasize all aspects of cardiac care, including heart attack emergency treatment.
NRMC has also achieved renewal for Level 3 STEMI Center certification from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. This certification is granted to hospitals meeting rigorous standards in assessing and treating STEMI, a specific kind of heart attack. NRMC is the region's only dually accredited ACC Chest Pain Center and Level 3 STEMI Center.
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