Chest Pain Center Accreditation Demonstrates Vidant Medical Center's Commitment To Treating, Reducing Heart Disease In Eastern N.C. | Eastern North Carolina Now

    GREENVILLE     Vidant Medical Center (VMC) has received full Chest Pain Center accreditation from the national Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). The accreditation includes percutaneous coronary intervention, in which blocked arteries are opened to allow adequate blood flow to the heart.

    "This prestigious recognition means Vidant Medical Center, with our East Carolina Heart Institute, has the exceptional people, programs, facilities, technology and community relationships to ensure our cardiac patients receive the best and most advanced care available," said Van Smith, VMC senior vice president. "Our Emergency Services and East Carolina Heart Institute teams work hard daily to provide the very best cardiac care, and achieving Chest Pain Center accreditation is a confirmation of that work."

    East Carolina Heart Institute is a partnership among physicians, Vidant Medical Center and East Carolina University. It is the first of its kind in North Carolina devoted exclusively to the clinical care, education, research and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

    Achieving accreditation, the SCPC notes, confirms VMC, "has demonstrated expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria ... ." Areas of focus include ensuring availability of highly trained personnel to assess, diagnose and treat heart patients quickly; supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to seek medical care promptly if symptoms suggest a possible heart attack; promoting optimal patient care; and integrating the hospital's emergency department with the local emergency medical system (EMS).

    "We work very closely with area EMS agencies so that together, we can get patients with cardiac problems to definitive care as soon as possible, especially those having heart attacks," said Mary Printz, a nurse practitioner who manages the acute coronary syndrome program at ECHI at Vidant Medical Center. "Timely access to appropriate medical treatment can make a real difference in reducing heart muscle damage, improving outcomes and facilitating recovery."


    The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) is an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming 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 organization, SCPC provides the support needed for individual hospitals and 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.

    Vidant Health, a mission-driven, not-for-profit corporation, owns, leases or has a majority membership interest in eight eastern North Carolina hospitals. The health system includes Vidant Beaufort Hospital, Vidant Bertie Hospital, Vidant Chowan Hospital, Vidant Duplin Hospital, Vidant Edgecombe Hospital, The Outer Banks Hospital, Vidant Medical Center, Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Vidant Home Health and Hospice,Vidant Wellness Centers, Vidant Medical Group and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. On the web at www.vidanthealth.com.