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CHI Saint Joseph Health is the first system in Kentucky to have all facilities become accredited
Chest Pain Centers. With this accreditation comes an ongoing effort to educate staff on Acute
Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) as it relates to
pathophysiology, early diagnosis, treatment, and symptoms. With this education and
information you will be better prepared to inform your patients, families, and visitors, about
these heart-related conditions.
The Impact of Heart Disease
According to the American Heart Association (Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2009
Update) acute myocardial infarction (AMI or Heart Attack) is the leading cause of death in the
adult population in the United States for both men and women.
It takes the life of one out of every five people. Every 34 seconds an American has a heart attack,
that’s about 1.1 million Americans every year. Recent advancements in the treatment of AMI
have greatly reduced its mortality and morbidity, but successful treatments are time dependent
and necessitate rapid initiation. For good outcomes, the patient must quickly recognize the signs
and symptoms of an AMI and the physician must quickly diagnose the AMI and initiate
treatment.
The History of Chest Pain Centers
The concept of Chest Pain Centers in community hospitals was presented in
the late 1980s as a strategy to reduce heart attack deaths through the rapid
treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Since then, they have
evolved to include safe, cost-effective management of low risk patients
presenting with acute chest pain.
Goals of a Chest Pain Centers
Significantly reduce the time it takes for a patient experiencing symptoms of a possible heart
attack to see a physician, thus reducing the time to treatment during the critical early stages,
when treatments are most effective.
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