The
Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick Campus was recently awarded Level II Emergency Cardiac Care Center designation
by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) in recognition of its
commitment to excellence in emergency cardiac care.
The mission of the state's Emergency Cardiac Care system is to improve
survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and heart attacks through
quality improvement, benchmarking and evidence-based guidelines.
To earn a Level II designation, the
Health System’s Brunswick Campus hospital had to undergo a rigorous site inspection and evaluation process
of several standards, including the ability to offer 24/7/365 cardiac
catheterization and angioplasty services and report data to the national
Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival database, established protocols
for therapeutic hypothermia to treat cardiac arrest patients, and written
transfer plans for patients who need a higher level of care.
“The Level II designation assures patients and our community that
the Health System offers exceptional, evidence-based care and treatment
for heart attacks and cardiac arrest,” explains Valory Peeples,
MBA, RRT, director, Cardiopulmonary Services. “During a cardiac
emergency, every second counts. The designation also informs EMS teams
transporting a heart attack patient that we can provide life-saving treatment
in a timely manner.”
According to DPH, cardiovascular disease is the single leading cause of
death in Georgia and accounts for more than 20,000 deaths annually. Improving
the survival rates from heart attacks and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
in Georgia is exceedingly important and is in keeping with DPH’s
desire to protect and improve the health and lives of individuals throughout
the state.
Peeples adds, “We achieved this designation thanks to the diligence
of our cardiologists, emergency department, ICU and cardiac cath lab teams.
We’re very proud of their commitment to improve survival rates and
quality of life for our patients.”