Geisinger Wyoming Valley earns reaccreditation as Chest Pain Center

One of only eight Chest Pain Centers in the state

Jan. 30. 2009, WILKES-BARRE — Geisinger Wyoming Valley (GWV) recently earned reaccreditation as a Chest Pain Center by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. GWV first earned accreditation in 2006 and the designation is effective for three years. GWV is the only Chest Pain accredited center in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties and one of only eight Accredited Chest Pain Centers in Pennsylvania.

“Geisinger Wyoming Valley has a proven record of quickly and effectively diagnosing and treating patients with possible heart attacks,” said Nancy Gattusso, RN, who led the reaccreditation team. “The designation as an accredited Chest Pain Center reinforces our commitment to quality heart care in northeast Pennsylvania.”

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 dying annually of heart disease. More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. The goal of the Society of Chest Pain Centers is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.

“We treat hundreds of chest pain patients each year at the Richard and Marion Pearsall Heart Hospital. Our goal is to provide the absolute best available treatment in the most efficient and timely manner,” added John Zelonis, GWV associate vice president.

As an accredited chest pain center, GWV has demonstrated expertise including:

• Integrating the Emergency Department with the local emergency medical system
• Assessing, diagnosing and treating patients quickly
• Effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms
• Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care
• Ensuring Chest Pain personnel competency and training
• Maintaining organizational structure and commitment
• Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
• Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack

In addition to being an accredited Chest Pain Center, GWV also leads a Level I Heart Attack Program, a regional partnership of emergency ambulance and helicopter services, community hospitals and angioplasty referral centers. Both initiatives solidify Geisinger’s position as the leader in quality cardiac care in the region. Geisinger Medical Center in Danville is also an accredited Chest Pain Center, and Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre is currently under review to achieve accreditation.

About the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC)
The Society of Chest Pain Centers is a patient centric non-profit international professional organization focused upon improving care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and other related maladies.  Established in 1998, the Society is dedicated to patient advocacy and focusing on ischemic heart disease. Central to its mission is the question, “What is right for the patient?” In answer, the Society promotes protocol based medicine, often delivered through a Chest Pain Center model to address the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, and to promote the adoption of process improvement science by healthcare providers. To best fulfill this mission, the Society of Chest Pain Centers provides accreditation to facilities striving for optimum Chest Pain Center care. SCPC is headquartered in Columbus, OH.