2 Arkansas hospitals have reached a significant milestone in emergency cardiac care, becoming the first non-percutaneous coronary intervention (non-PCI) capable hospitals in the state to earn Acute Heart Attack Ready certification through Joint Commission.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) announced that Baptist Health Medical Center – Hot Spring County in Malvern and North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison have earned the certification, recognizing their ability to quickly identify heart attacks, begin appropriate emergency treatment and coordinate rapid transfers when patients need more advanced cardiac care.
The achievement represents an important development for communities served by hospitals that do not have the capability to perform emergency coronary interventions on-site.
The certification recognizes the hospitals’ preparedness to respond to heart attack emergencies and their ability to work with other healthcare facilities to provide patients with timely treatment.
For patients experiencing a heart attack, the ability to quickly recognize symptoms, begin treatment and arrange specialized care can be critical.
Baptist Health in Malvern and North Arkansas Regional in Harrison Receive Certification
The 2 hospitals receiving the certification serve different regions of Arkansas.
Baptist Health Medical Center – Hot Spring County is located in Malvern and provides healthcare services to residents of Hot Spring County and surrounding communities.
North Arkansas Regional Medical Center is located in Harrison and serves patients throughout Boone County and the surrounding North Arkansas region.
Both hospitals have demonstrated that they have established procedures for identifying and responding to heart attack emergencies.
The certification is specifically significant because the hospitals are classified as non-PCI capable facilities.
PCI stands for percutaneous coronary intervention, a medical procedure used to open blocked or narrowed coronary arteries, often using a balloon and stent.
Hospitals without PCI capability must be prepared to recognize patients who need this specialized treatment and arrange timely transfer to a hospital equipped to provide it.
Acute Heart Attack Ready certification recognizes the systems and coordination necessary to provide this level of emergency response.
Arkansas Health Officials Say Every Minute Matters During a Heart Attack
Arkansas Department of Health Deputy Chief Medical Officer Bala Simon, MD, DrPH, MPH, FAAFP, FACPM, praised both hospitals for their commitment to improving emergency heart attack treatment.
“During a heart attack, every minute matters,” Simon said.
Simon commended Baptist Health Medical Center – Hot Spring County and North Arkansas Regional Medical Center for strengthening heart attack care in their communities.
According to Simon, certification demonstrates that the hospitals have processes in place to quickly identify and treat patients experiencing a heart attack while coordinating timely transfers when more advanced treatment is needed.
State health officials say the certification represents an important part of improving emergency cardiac care across Arkansas.
What Does Acute Heart Attack Ready Certification Mean?
Acute Heart Attack Ready certification is designed for hospitals that provide emergency evaluation and treatment of heart attack patients, including facilities that may need to transfer patients to larger cardiac centers.
The certification program emphasizes coordinated emergency care, evidence-based treatment and rapid communication between hospitals and emergency medical services.
Important areas of heart attack readiness include:
- Rapid recognition of possible heart attack symptoms.
- Prompt evaluation and diagnostic testing.
- Established emergency treatment procedures.
- Coordination between emergency department personnel and medical providers.
- Communication with emergency medical services.
- Timely transfers to hospitals providing advanced cardiac interventions.
- Ongoing review and improvement of patient care procedures.
The certification does not mean the 2 hospitals now perform PCI procedures.
Instead, it recognizes their preparedness to identify heart attack emergencies, provide appropriate initial treatment and arrange advanced care when necessary.
This distinction is especially important in communities where patients may need to travel to another hospital for specialized cardiac procedures.
Joint Commission, American Heart Association and Arkansas Department of Health Partner on Certification
The certification initiative is a collaborative effort involving 3 healthcare organizations.
The Arkansas Department of Health, American Heart Association and Joint Commission are working together to strengthen heart attack treatment and emergency care coordination across Arkansas.
Joint Commission provides the certification standards and evaluation process.
The American Heart Association participates in the cardiac certification initiative and supports evidence-based approaches to heart attack treatment.
The Arkansas Department of Health assists participating hospitals throughout the certification process.
The goal is to strengthen emergency cardiac care systems so hospitals can recognize heart attacks, provide timely treatment and coordinate appropriate patient transfers.
The initiative is particularly important for facilities without around-the-clock access to specialized cardiac procedures.
Federal Block Grant Funding Supports Arkansas Hospital Certification
The Arkansas Department of Health says funding for the certification initiative was made possible through the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant.
The funding has allowed ADH to provide assistance to hospitals participating in the certification process.
State health officials are continuing to encourage additional hospitals to pursue the designation.
The Arkansas Department of Health says it is offering funding and technical assistance to other qualifying hospitals interested in obtaining Acute Heart Attack Ready certification.
Hospitals interested in participating can review the state’s grant and bid opportunities. The program is listed under DH-27-0002: Heart Attack Designation.
More information is available at: ADH Grant and Bid Opportunities
Interested hospital administrators should review the official program requirements and application information.
Why the Certification Matters for Rural Arkansas Communities
Many Arkansas residents live in rural areas where the nearest hospital offering advanced cardiac procedures may be some distance away.
When a patient experiences a heart attack, the first hospital providing emergency care plays an important role in recognizing the condition and determining the appropriate treatment.
At non-PCI hospitals, medical teams must be prepared to begin emergency care and coordinate transportation when patients require treatment at another facility.
Effective communication between hospitals, emergency medical services and specialized cardiac teams can help reduce unnecessary delays.
The Acute Heart Attack Ready program focuses on establishing and maintaining the procedures necessary for those situations.
For patients and families in Malvern, Harrison and surrounding communities, the certification provides recognition that their local hospitals have demonstrated preparedness for heart attack emergencies.
However, certification does not guarantee a particular patient outcome, and the appropriate treatment depends on the patient’s individual medical condition.
Know the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
The American Heart Association encourages everyone to recognize the warning signs of a possible heart attack. Symptoms can appear suddenly or develop gradually.
COMMON WARNING SIGNS INCLUDE:
- Chest pain, pressure, squeezing or discomfort.
- Pain or discomfort in 1 or both arms.
- Pain in the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.
- Cold sweats.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Lightheadedness or unusual weakness.
- Unexplained fatigue.
Women and men may experience different combinations of symptoms, and not every heart attack begins with severe chest pain.
The American Heart Association advises anyone experiencing possible heart attack symptoms to call 911 immediately.
Emergency medical personnel can begin evaluation and treatment while arranging transportation to an appropriate hospital.
People experiencing symptoms should not delay seeking emergency medical attention.
For more information about heart attack warning signs, visit: American Heart Association — Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
Arkansas Department of Health Encourages More Hospitals to Participate
With Baptist Health Medical Center – Hot Spring County and North Arkansas Regional Medical Center becoming Arkansas’ first non-PCI hospitals to earn Acute Heart Attack Ready certification, state health officials are looking to expand participation.
The Arkansas Department of Health continues to offer technical assistance and funding opportunities for additional facilities pursuing certification.
Hospitals interested in participating can review the Heart Attack Designation opportunity through the department’s grant program.
The initiative is intended to strengthen Arkansas’ emergency cardiac care network by helping hospitals establish and maintain effective procedures for handling heart attack emergencies.
A Milestone for Heart Attack Care in Arkansas
The certifications earned by Baptist Health Medical Center – Hot Spring County and North Arkansas Regional Medical Center mark a milestone in Arkansas’ efforts to improve heart attack response and emergency cardiac care.
The Arkansas Department of Health says both hospitals have demonstrated the ability to quickly recognize and treat heart attacks while coordinating transfers to advanced cardiac care facilities when necessary.
Through its partnership with the American Heart Association and Joint Commission, the state is encouraging more hospitals to pursue similar certification.
For Arkansas families, the announcement also serves as a reminder that recognizing the warning signs of a heart attack and seeking immediate emergency medical attention can be lifesaving.
Hospital Information
BAPTIST HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER – HOT SPRING COUNTY
1001 Schneider Drive
Malvern, Arkansas 72104
Phone: 501-332-1000
Website: baptist-health.org
NORTH ARKANSAS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
620 North Main Street
Harrison, Arkansas 72601
Phone: 870-414-4000
Website: narmc.com
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Grant and Bid Opportunities: healthy.arkansas.gov
Program: DH-27-0002 — Heart Attack Designation
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