Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Cardiology has been awarded chest pain center accreditation with primary percutaneous coronary intervention from the American College of Cardiology, according to a Dec. 11 report from chattanoogan.com.
The accreditation is based on an on-site review of how well employees evaluate, diagnose and treat patients having a heart attack. Systems must also have primary PCI available 24/7, a nonsurgical 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.
Facilities must also maintain a "no diversion" policy for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. This is the second time Erlanger has earned the accreditation, which is good for three years.