In April 2012, Three Rivers Medical Center applied for and was granted full accreditation by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) – a designation held by only 12 percent of hospitals in the United States.

How Much Do You Know About Your Heart?

To receive accreditation, Three Rivers Medical Center has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and completing on-site evaluations by a SCPC review team. “This is momentous, not only for our hospital and patients, but the communities we serve,” said Greg Kiser, CEO. “It’s another step in our commitment to providing superior emergency and cardiac care to the residents of the community.

Chest pain is among the top symptoms of patients who visit the Three Rivers Medical Center Emergency Room. This designation means that any patient who comes to Three Rivers Medical Center experiencing chest pain can be confident he or she is receiving care that meets or exceeds the highest national standards of care. Positive patient outcomes depend on timely intervention, diagnosis and treatment. Emergency room physicians and patient care staff at the Three Rivers Medical Center Accredited Chest Pain Center consistently demonstrate expertise in streamlined diagnosis and treatment, integration with paramedics/EMS, community education and other key factors that ensure better outcomes for patients. The investment in establishing an Accredited Chest Pain Center demonstrates Three Rivers Medical Center’s ongoing commitment to providing superior team-centered cardiac care. “Quick response, diagnosis and treatment save lives and heart muscle,” says Dr. Iyad Asaad, Co-Medical Director of the new Three Rivers Medical Center Accredited Chest Pain Center. “Our skilled team of ED physicians and nurses, integration with paramedics/EMS, advanced technology and exceptional response time to cardiac emergencies will give patients the best chance of survival and recovery.

The SCPC is a non-profit international society that promotes protocol-based medicine and the adoption of process improvement science by healthcare providers to address heart attacks and acute heart failure. In April 2012, SCPC granted the Three Rivers Medical Center Chest Pain Center a full three-year accreditation.

Uncertainty is normal.
Heart attacks are not always sudden and intense. Many start slowly, with only mild pain or discomfort. You may not be sure what’s wrong – even if you’ve had a previous heart attack. When in doubt, check it out.

Call 9-1-1 immediately. Ask the paramedics to take you to the Three Rivers Medical Center Emergency Department.
Chew two aspirin tablets as soon as possible. Don’t wait - your life may depend on it.