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Hospitals that have accreditation from the American College of Cardiology have the tools and protocols in place to immediately care for heart attack patients. The level of accreditation can vary based on the treatments available at the hospital, but when you visit an Accredited Chest Pain Center, you can expect:
- Emergency medical services (EMS) and Accredited Chest Pain Centers to communicate while transporting you to the hospital to ensure resources are available when you arrive.
- Follow-up care offered early after discharge so your heart health can continue to be monitored, as recommended by the care team.
- Outcomes to be tracked and evaluated to help inform evidence-based guidelines that Accredited Chest Pain Centers follow.
Patients report feeling more satisfied with the health care they received at an Accredited Chest Pain Center. Other benefits include:
- fewer readmissions and dollars spent on healthcare
- improved times for the door-to-balloon procedure, or the first device used to restore blood flow to the heart, which should take place within 90 minutes
- shorter hospital stays
This approach to cardiac care extends beyond the hospital to the community through outreach programs to teach preventive health. When it comes to chest pain, it means educating community members about how to spot a heart attack and what to do in the first critical moments.
Heart attack symptoms are not always obvious. Be alert as symptoms for men and women can vary.
Men typically experience more severe, noticeable chest pain that lasts longer than a few minutes. They also may experience upper body pain in their arms, shoulder or jaw.
Women may experience more subtle symptoms, often mistaking it for a minor health concern. Chest pain may not occur at all for women. Instead, they may have cold or flu-like symptoms, along with possible upper back pain, nausea, breathlessness or extreme fatigue.
If you suspect you or a loved one is having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.
