UP Health System – Marquette Recognized for Excellence with Renewal of Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI

Providing necessary, high-quality care to cardiac cath lab patients close to home

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) Accreditation Services has recognized UP Health System – Marquette (UPHS – Marquette), a Duke LifePoint hospital, for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients who come to a cardiac catheterization lab for care, including diagnostic catheterizations and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures. UP Health System – Marquette once again received the Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI earlier this year based on a rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who receive services from the cardiac catheterization lab.

UP Health System – Marquette is the only hospital in the region to be awarded both the Cardiac Cath Lab with PCI Accreditation as well as the Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 805,000 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—but are not limited to—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 (PCI) 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 proven exceptional competency in treating patients who require cardiac catheterization have standardized their assessment process for patients before undergoing catheterization to ensure quality and patient safety. They ensure that care in the procedure room for sedation, infection control, radiation safety, universal protocol, and time-out procedures is fully coordinated; and have mastered the appropriate transfer to a cath recovery unit to better monitor and track complications, enhance physician-to-patient communication, patient family communication, discharge instructions and follow-up information.

“UP Health System – Marquette has demonstrated its commitment to providing the Upper Peninsula with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award UPHS – Marquette with Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI.”

Hospitals receiving Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that involves completing a gap analysis; examining variances of care; developing an action plan; a rigorous onsite review; and monitoring for sustained success. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes, implementing guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices in the care of cath lab patients. Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts leading to improved patient outcomes.

“Achieving this accreditation was a tremendous effort made by our entire team,” said Robert Kroll, Director, Heart and Vascular Imaging, at UPHS – Marquette. “We provide evidenced-based world-class heart and vascular services right here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I’m incredibly proud of our organization. This achievement speaks to the quality of not only the Cath Lab but the entire Heart and Vascular service line. Our community has benefited and will continue to benefit from this effort.”

The Heart & Vascular Center at UP Health System – Marquette offers a wide range of cardiovascular services including general cardiology, diagnostic testing, diagnostic and interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiac rehabilitation, and cardiothoracic surgery, including open-heart. As a Duke Health affiliate in heart, UP Health System – Marquette has access to the latest Duke guidelines in heart care and we receive the most up-to-date staff training and education in heart care. All of this adds up to an enhanced quality of healthcare, right in your own community.

Is it time for a heart checkup? Chest discomfort, shortness of breath, or an irregular heartbeat could be signs of a heart problem and should be evaluated by a physician. To learn more about the heart and vascular services at UPHS – Marquette visit UPHealthSystem.com/Heart. To make an appointment, call 906.449.3440 or take our free heart health assessment.