March 7, 2019
THEDACARE AMONG FIRST IN STATE TO RECEIVE CARDIAC ACCREDITATION
Honor Recognizes Safety and Quality of Cardiovascular Care
APPLETON, Wis. – ThedaCare is pleased to announce it was recognized by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with cardiovascular health needs. ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton was awarded Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat cardiac cath lab patients. ThedaCare is only the second cath lab accredited program in the state of Wisconsin.
“The Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation is validation that ThedaCare patients are receiving the highest quality heart care in the area,” said Imran Andrabi, MD, president and CEO of ThedaCare. “Providing comprehensive care, including cardiovascular care, is key to our mission of improving the health of the communities we serve.”
According to the American College of Cardiology, 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.
A catheterization laboratory or cath lab is a hospital examination room where care teams perform minimally invasive tests and procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) 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.
“To be the second system in the state of Wisconsin to earn this accreditation demonstrates that ThedaCare is committed to delivering comprehensive cardiovascular care and advancing the quality and safety guidelines and practices that are proven to be best for our patients,” said Scott Betzelos, MD, chief clinical officer and president of the Clinically Integrated Network of ThedaCare.
“ThedaCare has demonstrated its commitment to providing Northeast and Central Wisconsin with excellent heart care,” said Phillip D. Levy, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award ThedaCare with Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI.”
Hospitals receiving Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI from the ACC must take part in a multifaceted 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 support the efforts leading to improved patient outcomes.
“At ThedaCare, patients always come first,” said Heather Stenbroten, ThedaCare Chest Pain Coordinator. “Their PCI treatment doesn’t end when they leave our doors. Continuing communication and following up with important information as they continue to heal is imperative in their recovery.”
The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like ThedaCare access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to improve patient outcomes.
About ThedaCare
For more than 110 years, ThedaCare® has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization serves a community of more than 600,000 residents and employs more than 6,700 healthcare professionals throughout the regions. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 31 clinics in nine counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service.
For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.
Media should call Cassandra Wallace, Public Relations Specialist at 920.442.0328 or the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah switchboard at 920.729.3100 and ask for the marketing person on call.
About the American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org. For more information about ACC Accreditation Services, visit accreditation.acc.org, or call toll-free 1-877-271-4176.
