Western Baptist Hospital is the first in the region to earn national accreditation by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. 

The three-year accreditation recognizes Western Baptist’s efficiency in treating chest pain, a symptom causing more than 5 million Americans to enter national emergency departments each year. 

 In 2007, approximately 17 percent of all Western Baptist Emergency department patients entered the hospital with heart attack symptoms.

“This accreditation is a seal of approval that tells the community that Western Baptist is providing the very best possible care for heart attack patients,” said Larry Barton, president and CEO of Western Baptist. “It also is a statement of commitment that the hospital will continue to take an innovative approach to treating heart disease.”

Barton said the accreditation recognizes a hospital-wide effort to implement best practices aimed at saving heart muscle.

The recognition comes from the non-profit international society bridging cardiology, emergency medicine and other professions focused on improving care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and acute heart failure.

Anna Ek, the society’s accreditation review specialist who visited Western Baptist in mid-February, said the hospital’s commitment not only to treat heart attacks, but also to educate the community on heart disease prevention is remarkable.

“Western Baptist has some of the best community outreach programs I have ever witnessed,” said Ek.

Cardiologist Patrick Withrow, M.D., Baptist Heart Center medical director, said national accreditation affirms the hospital’s mission to provide outstanding heart care close to home.

“People in the region can take comfort in knowing Western Baptist has some of the most skilled, dedicated heart care professionals in the nation working here toward the common goal of saving lives,” said Dr. Withrow.

Ek, of Columbus, Ohio, said Western Baptist rivals hospitals nationwide in its cardiac care.

“We see many different sizes of facilities,” said Ek, “and truly, Western Baptist Hospital is delivering state of the art heart care to the community. I personally would feel very safe in the care at Western Baptist.” 

Western Baptist operates a seven-bed Chest Pain Center 24 hours a day in the Emergency department. The dedicated staff includes registered nurses with additional training in acute coronary syndrome and cardiac care.

For more information, visit westernbaptist.com or phone (270) 575-2918.