Titus Regional Medical Center is now certified as a Primary Heart Attack Center (PHAC) by the American Heart Association and The Joint Commission, becoming only the second hospital in Texas and the sixth hospital in the nation to achieve this designation.  Centers achieving PHAC certification are a part of a national heart attack system of care, providing consistent treatment for ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Heart Attack patients. These facilities expertly assess symptom onset, meet performance measures and provide seamless care to their cardiac patients. They are ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to perform Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI).

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading global cause of death with more than 17.9 million deaths each year, while nearly 80 percent of all cardiac events are preventable. These alarming statistics pose a challenge to the entirety of the healthcare industry: treatments and strategies must be implemented to enhance the value and quality of care for patients diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases.

Hospitals need the latest evidence-based science to ensure that their patients are well cared for and have a positive experience during their hospital stay. The American Heart Association and The Joint Commission have created this new certification as a collaborative effort, putting emphasis on getting patients to the right facility at the right time. It is simply not enough to only care for a patient when they are physically in the hospital. Steps must be taken to provide preventative care for patients before they need hospitalization, appropriate treatment as cardiac symptoms arise, correct care once a cardiac episode arises, and aggressive care after an event to help the patient return to activity and to prevent future events.

Hospitals must provide evidence that their organization is able to effectively take care of heart attack patients and save more lives from cardiovascular disease. Certified centers have the means to create a multidisciplinary group of professionals who have the same goal of improving quality care. Certified hospitals can also be recognized by an emergency medical system (EMS) as being capable of handling heart attacks. EMS organizations need to know which hospitals have the capability to be a part of their regional emergency care systems, so they can be confident in where to send their patients with suspected heart attacks.

Certification gives patients and families an impartial source to let them know that a hospital is trustworthy. Through data analysis, the AHA and The Joint Commission collaborate on quality improvement activities, helping hospitals achieve the highest possible performance in cardiovascular disease care. The goal is to give everyone the best chance at survival and the highest quality of life through their experience at a certified hospital.

To find out more about the Heart & Vascular Institute at Titus, click here.