The American College of Cardiology Accreditation Services has recognized Havasu Regional Medical Center (HRMC), a LifePoint Health 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. Havasu Regional Medical Center was awarded Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI in February 2019 based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who come to the cardiac cath lab.
Havasu Regional Medical Center is the first and only hospital in the state of Arizona to earn this accreditation and one of only 24 hospitals in the nation. Percutaneous coronary intervention is also known as coronary angioplasty, with or without stenting. It is a non-surgical procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary arteries with a balloon and/or stent 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-topatient communication, patient family communication, discharge instructions and follow-up information.
“Havasu Regional Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to their region by providing excellent heart care,” said Phillip D. Levy, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Havasu Regional Medical Center with Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI.”
Hospitals receiving Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI from ACC Accreditation Services 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 earnestly support the efforts leading to improved patient outcomes. “Achieving this accreditation was a tremendous effort made by our entire team,” said Wes Taylor, Chief Operating Officer at Havasu Regional Medical Center. “We provide evidenced based world-class heart and vascular services right here in the greater Lake Havasu region. I’m incredibly proud of our organization. This achievement speaks to the quality of not only the Cath Lab but the Heart Vascular Service line as a whole. Our communities have been and will continue to benefit from this effort.” Havasu Regional Medical Center provides comprehensive cardiovascular services including general cardiology, diagnostic testing, diagnostic and interventional cardiology, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, vascular care, and open-heart surgery. The ACC and the American Heart Association are collaborating to offer U.S. hospitals like Havasu Regional Medical Center access to a comprehensive suite of co-branded cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including the cath lab.
