Raleigh General Hospital Recognized for Excellence with ACC Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI

Beckley, W.Va. (January 29, 2025) — The American College of Cardiology has recognized Raleigh General 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. Raleigh General was awarded Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI in December based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who come to the cardiac cath lab.

Percutaneous coronary intervention 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 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.

“Raleigh General has demonstrated its commitment to providing Beckley 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 Hospital with Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI.”

Hospitals receiving Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI 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 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.

"We are incredibly proud to announce the accreditation of our Cath Lab, a significant milestone that underscores our commitment to providing the highest quality cardiology care to our community. Said David Bunch, CEO, Raleigh General Hospital. This achievement is a direct result of the hard work, dedication, and excellence demonstrated by our entire cardiology team. This accreditation represents not only the growth and progress we’ve made, but also our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every patient receives the best possible care. We are excited for what the future holds as we continue to elevate the standard of heart care in our region."

The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Raleigh General 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 the cath lab.