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.”