Raleigh General Hospital Receives ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI

BECKLEY, W.Va. (January 2, 2024) — The American College of Cardiology has recognized Raleigh General Hospital  for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. Raleigh General was awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI in December based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 730,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are more likely to have atypical symptoms. Other heart attack symptoms include, but are not limited to, tingling or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweat, unusual tiredness, heartburn-like feeling, nausea or vomiting, sudden dizziness and fainting.

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.

Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24/7 every day of the year. As required to meet the criteria of the accreditation designation, they comply with standard Chest Pain Center protocols and are equipped with a robust hypothermia program for post-cardiac arrest treatment. These facilities also maintain a "No Diversion Policy" for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

“Raleigh General has demonstrated its commitment to providing Southern West Virginia with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Raleigh General with Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation.”

Hospitals receiving Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted 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 of guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices in the care of patients experiencing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. 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 better patient education and improved patient outcomes.

I’m so proud of our team and everyone involved in this process and their commitment to our community. Said Kimberly Perdue, Cath Lab Director at Raleigh General. “I live here, this is my home and I know I can send my loved ones to Raleigh General Hospital and they will get the care they need and deserve. We work so hard every day to make sure we can make a difference in someone’s life. With so much working against our rural population, having this level of specialized care is so important.”

The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Raleigh General Hospital access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including emergency treatment of heart attacks.

About Raleigh General Hospital

A part of LifePoint Health®, Raleigh General Hospital, southern West Virginia’s leading medical center, has served the city of Beckley and surrounding counties since 1922. The acute care hospital offers a full range of services including trauma, obstetrics, advanced imaging, lithotripsy, interventional cardiac care, oncology, emergency, gastroenterology, and advanced wound care and hyperbaric medicine services. Additionally, we offer the following surgical services: general, orthopedic, vascular, spine, gynecology, ENT and podiatry. Each year, the hospital admits over 10,000 patients, delivers about 1,100 babies and treats nearly 50,000 people in its emergency department. Approximately 3,500 inpatient surgeries, 8,000 outpatient surgeries and 4,500 endoscopies are performed annually. Our facility is also an Accredited Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI from the American College of Cardiology's (ACC) Accreditation Services, Raleigh General Hospital has also attained advanced certification by The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center.  To learn more about Raleigh General Hospital, visit http://www.raleighgeneral.com.

About the American College of Cardiology

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is the global leader in transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. As the preeminent source of professional medical education for the entire cardiovascular care team since 1949, ACC credentials cardiovascular professionals in over 140 countries who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. Through its world-renowned family of JACC Journals, NCDR registries, ACC Accreditation Services, global network of Member Sections, CardioSmart patient resources and more, the College is committed to ensuring a world where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes. Learn more at acc.org or follow @ACCinTouch.

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