The center, which stands at 151 E. Redstone Ave. in Crestview, was awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI in July. The accreditation was based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack, NOMC officials said in a news release.
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 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 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.
“North Okaloosa Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to providing their community with excellent heart care,” Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board, said in a statement.
“Achieving Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation from the American College of Cardiology ensures that NOMC will provide our patients with the best possible care for chest pain and related cardiac conditions at our facility,” Michael Nordness, the hospital’s CEO, said in a statement. “It also demonstrates NOMC’s focus on bringing the highest quality care to our communities and the patients we serve. The entire team at NOMC is committed to ensuring that through their expertise and dedication we are providing the best possible Cardiac Care for our patients, and that we exceed the standards for optimal cardiovascular care.”
