TMCnet News
LifePoint Hospitals and Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care Partner for Multi-Hospital AccreditationLifePoint Hospitals® (NASDAQ: LPNT), a leading company focused on providing quality healthcare services close to home, and the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) have partnered to support LifePoint facilities in attaining Chest Pain Center Accreditation. The effort, which SCPC reports is its first system-wide collaboration of such size, demonstrates LifePoint's commitment to excellence in quality, patient safety and overall patient care. "LifePoint is committed to providing high quality patient care in the communities we serve and to continually improving quality, safety and patient satisfaction," says David Dill, president and chief operating officer for LifePoint. "Emergency care is a focus at LifePoint. The emergency room often is a patient's first impression of the hospital. System-wide, we focus on providing the best possible patient experience and improving quality by reducing variation, promoting consistency and adopting best practices to enhance our emergency services. Chest Pain Center Accreditation aligns well with our efforts, and we are proud of our 23 hospitals that recently earned this designation." LifePoint's goal is to achieve Chest Pain Center Accreditation at every LifePoint hospital in the coming years. The first group of hospitals to earn accreditation includes:
Chest Pain Center Accreditation is a process that helps hospitals define their strengths and identify areas for improvement to enhance the care of heart attack patients who present in the emergency department (ED) with acute coronary signs and symptoms. The accreditation process is designed to support hospitals' evaluation, diagnostic and treatment processes for heart patients. All aspects of the care experience are addressed from the onset of symptoms to coordination with community responders, emergency medical services, the ED experience, surgical intervention (if necessary), cardiac rehab and discharge. The collaboration between SCPC and LifePoint served to structure each hospital's alignment with pertinent acute coronary syndrome (ACS (News - Alert)) guidelines giving practical solutions where needed. LifePoint and SCPC partnered in an accelerated format for process change with detailed data support and quarterly facility progress reports. The process supported the Early Heart Attack Care (EHAC) educational model for all LifePoint hospital employees at these facilities and their surrounding communities. Hospitals that earn Chest Pain Center Accreditation must achieve Society-determined competency for 279 required standards as a testament to their performance and also demonstrate a minimum six-month improvement trend within four defined cardiac treatment processes and/or procedures. Each facility commits to ongoing process improvement and regular external review of cardiac process metrics in addition to their own internal quality assurance efforts for the duration of the three-year accreditation timeframe. Primary benefits of Chest Pain Center Accreditation are operational efficiencies in the care of chest pain patients, improved coordination with local EMS systems, increased community awareness and better integration of patient care teams, all of which lead to better coordination of care for heart patients. About LifePoint Hospitals LifePoint Hospitals® is a leading hospital company focused on providing quality healthcare services close to home. Through its subsidiaries, LifePoint operates more than 60 hospital campuses in 21 states. With a mission of "Making Communities Healthier®," LifePoint is the sole community hospital provider in the majority of the communities it serves. More information about the company, which is headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., can be found at www.LifePointHospitals.com. All references to "LifePoint," "LifePoint Hospitals" or the "Company" used in this release refer to LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. or its affiliates. About the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) is an international not-for-profit organization whose mission is to transform cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction. As the only cross-specialty Society, SCPC provides the support needed for hospital systems to effectively bridge existing gaps in treatment by providing the tools, education and support necessary to successfully navigate the changing face of healthcare. For more information on SCPC, accreditation and certification opportunities, visit www.scpcp.org, or call toll free 1-877-271-4176.
|
