Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/560504
SOUTHWEST GENERAL HOSPITAL RECEIVES TOP ACCREDITATION — CHEST PAIN CENTER WITH PCI; HIGH LEVEL OF EXPERTISE WILL ALLOW CLINICIANS TO BETTER EVALUATE PATIENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING CHEST PAIN Southwest General Hospital has received full Chest Pain Center with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). This accreditation means Southwest General has met or exceeded stringent criteria involving treatment of cardiac patients. The accreditation allows clinicians to reduce the time for treat - ing patients during the critical early stages of a heart attack. Chest pain centers such as Southwest General have the expertise to better monitor patients when it is unclear whether they are having a coronary problem. The designation also ensures that pa - tients receive the proper treatment — whether it's to be admitted or allowed to return home. "Southwest General Hospital has the tools and the best team in place to help identify — and address — our patients' needs when they come through our doors," says Craig Desmond, CEO of Southwest General Hospital. "We've been committed to improv - ing health care across the board, and this accreditation repre- sents one more step toward that goal." More than 600,000 people die annually of heart disease in the United States, making it the leading cause of death. More than 5 million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. SCPC's goal is to reduce the mortality rate of cardiac patients by improving the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment. The organization is also dedicated to educating the public on how to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack. UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IS ONE OF AMERICA'S BEST HOSPITALS + No. 1 in San Antonio region, five years in a row + No. 6 in Texas + Top 50 in the nation for kidney disease For the fifth straight year, University Hospital has been named best hospital in the San Antonio region by U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News again ranked University Hospital No. 6 in Texas, and among the top 50 in the country for the care of patients with kidney disease. Only 137 out of nearly 5,000 U.S. hospitals earned a national Top 50 ranking in any specialty. University Health System is also recognized as high-performing in the areas of cancer, gynecology, pulmonology and urology. "It is a great honor to be named one of U.S. News & World Report 's Best Hospitals yet again," says George B. Hernández Jr., President and CEO of University Health System. "But the real value of this recognition is that it affirms our hard work and com- mitment to providing our patients the very highest level of care." University Health System, owned by the people of Bexar County, is the primary teaching partner for the School of Medicine HOSPITAL ROUNDS 1 4 | San Antonio MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M