Recently, the cardiac catheterization lab at Coffee Regional Medical Center was fully accredited for its cardiac stent PCI Program. This accreditation is a requirement for PCI programs in Georgia. The accreditation followed a review of program data and an onsite visit by clinical representatives from Corazon, Inc. a national leader in program development for the cardiovascular specialty and approved by the Georgia Department of Community Health to conduct accreditation surveys.
In an effort to enhance quality cardiovascular services to everyone in our community, CRMC set out to establish this life-saving program in early 2018. The need for interventional cardiology was evident and Coffee Regional was determined to offer a quality program that was accessible to everyone in our community. Coffee Regional contracted with Corazon, Inc. to facilitate the development of this new PCI Program.
This program assures the 24/7/365 availability of skilled nursing and cardiac catheterization lab staff. This was a vital step as all staff and physicians are required to respond in 30 minutes or less to emergent situations. Staff training, skills testing, and on-call policies are in place to ensure patient safety and timely intervention. Corazon, Inc. was on-hand throughout the planning and development process to guide CRMC and ensure an effective program was being developed in conjunction with guidelines outlined by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), and the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI). CRMC’s PCI Program began in January 14, 2019.
What is the PCI Program? This is a cardiovascular program that includes Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) services, performed in the CRMC Catheterization Laboratory. This is performed by an Interventional Cardiologist who has specialty training in this procedure. Dr. Glenn Evans, Interventional Cardiologist and Dr. Joel Ferree, Cardiologist, both of CRH Cardiology Group were the lead physicians on this project. These PCI services are vital when a patient presents to the Emergency Room with chest pains, as this procedure can diagnose and treat most heart attacks. If a blockage is found during the cardiac catheterization procedure, a stent can be placed to open that blockage, restoring blood flow to the heart, and increasing patients’ chances of recovery. Percutaneous means “through the skin” therefore this is a minimally invasive procedure, allowing the patient to recover quickly from the procedure.
This full accreditation came sooner than expected due to higher than expected volumes of CRMC’s PCI Program. Corazon, Inc. estimated volumes for 2019. This is a testament of, not only the need for this life-saving program in our community, but also the trust this community has in CRMC and this program.
Based on Corazon’s accreditation cycle, CRMC will be required to undergo a full accreditation survey in two years. Corazon, Inc. will continue to monitor program data to ensure ongoing compliance.
Through this process, Coffee Regional Medical Center has demonstrated a commitment to providing the highest quality and level of cardiac care to all patients in Coffee County as well as all across South Georgia. Coffee Regional Medical Center and CRH Cardiology Group provide comprehensive cardiac care using advanced technology and evidence-based medicine to provide the highest quality care for a range of issues including high blood pressure, arrhythmias, heart valve disease and heart failure. To learn more visit www.CoffeeRegional.org/cardiology