Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital (CCH) received The American College of Cardiology’s Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI for its demonstrated expertise and commitment to treating patients with chest pain. CCH was awarded the accreditation based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.  

“It’s gratifying seeing CCH recognized for our continued commitment to delivering quality care and improving patient outcomes,” said Timothy Boyek, Medical Director of the Chest Pain Center at CCH. “Our recognition is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of our emergency services, heart, and vascular care team of nurses, and medical staff demonstrating their ability to provide exceptional heart care for the Chester County community.”  

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty, 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 earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24/7.

As required to meet the criteria of the accreditation designation, they comply with standard Chest Pain Center protocols and are equipped with a robust hypothermia program for post-cardiac arrest treatment. These facilities also maintain a “No Diversion Policy” for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. 

In addition, hospitals that achieve this 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 better patient education and improved patient outcomes. 

“Chester County Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to providing the Chester County community with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award CCH with Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 730,000 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. 

Learn more at Chester County Hospital.