Connecting Columbia Union Seventh-day Adventists

Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital Recognized for Excellent Heart Care

Story by Betty Klinck

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and recent research suggests that going to a hospital rated highly for heart care matters. By delivering such high-quality care to the Washington, D.C. region, Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital has received two national recognitions for its heart program.

Washington Adventist Hospital received the highest distinction for excellence in heart surgery from the Society for Thoracic Surgeons (STS), and was also recognized for efficient, effective and rapid treatment of heart attacks by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC), an Institute of the American College of Cardiology.

The STS awarded the hospital a Three-Star rating – the highest possible quality rating – for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), the most common type of open-heart surgery in the U.S. Washington Adventist Hospital is among the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide to achieve a Three-Star rating.

“The Three-Star rating in CABG is very important to us. It is a measure of excellent outcomes for our patients,” said Paul Massimiano, MD, the hospital’s medical director of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery. “It designates a very high standard and it validates the importance of teamwork and attention to detail in our cardiac program.”

The STS analyzes many different national cardiac surgical data categories annually to determine which hospitals meet the stringent Three-Star rating. The quality rating measures patient outcomes, processes and adherence to evidence-based care throughout the patient’s admission.

Additionally, Washington Adventist Hospital is now one of only two hospitals in Maryland to receive accreditation as a Chest Pain Center – Version V with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention, or angioplasty) from the SCPC.  This is currently the highest accreditation level offered by the SCPC. It recognizes the hospital’s ongoing commitment to care for patients with heart attack symptoms using more efficient and effective diagnostic methods, as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment.

“Our accreditation as a Chest Pain Center highlights the coordinated care provided by our Emergency Department, cardiology team and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers,” said Katie Byrd, MD, medical director of the hospital’s Chest Pain Center. “Through collaboration and standardized processes, our team ensures rapid assessment and life-saving treatment to each patient who enters our hospital with chest pain.”

Minutes matter when you or a loved one experience chest pain – getting heart attack treatment quickly can preserve more of the heart muscle. As an accredited Chest Pain Center with PCI, Washington Adventist Hospital has met strict quality standards aimed at:

·         Minimizing the time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment,

·         Treating patients more quickly to preserve the heart muscle, and

·         Closely monitoring patients who are experiencing chest pain.

Further, receiving heart attack care from a hospital that performs the best on widely used quality measures could add one year to your life, according to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

People experiencing signs of a heart attack, such as tightness in the chest, pain or discomfort in the neck, jaw or arms, or shortness of breath, or fatigue should call 9-1-1 immediately. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of a heart attack here.

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