The breakdown
Texas Health Hospital Frisco received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval and the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark for its Acute Heart Attack Ready certification, according to a Sept. 16 news release.
“This certification means Texas Health Frisco is nationally recognized as a medical facility that provides the best care to patients coming in with chest pain,” said Owais Idris, an interventional cardiologist and Texas Health Frisco’s Chest Pain Program co-medical director, in the release. “By collaborating closely with EMS, emergency rooms and urgent care providers, the end goal is always to improve the outcomes for patients.”
Reviewers during a recent Texas Health Frisco site visit evaluated the quality of the hospital’s treatment of acute coronary syndrome, various conditions that cause sudden reductions in blood flow to the heart, and STEMI, one of the most common and lethal types of heart attacks, according to the release. STEMI, or ST-elevation myocardial infarction, is caused by a main artery in the heart being completely blocked.
The Gold Seal of Approval is given to healthcare providers that show a commitment to holding themselves accountable to a high bar of quality and safety, according to The Joint Commission’s website.
“This designation represents Texas Health Frisco’s commitment to building comprehensive clinical programs by providing Frisco residents, and the surrounding areas, quality care close to home,” Texas Health president Brett Lee said in the release. “We look forward to continuing to evolve our programs as the community continues to grow.”
The Acute Heart Attack Ready certification involved multiple months of data collection and patient feedback analysis, said David Wolf, chest pain program coordinator at Texas Health Frisco, in the release.
To receive the certification, Texas Health Frisco also had to do the following:
- Meet standards promoting the highest level of commitment to consistent and optimal heart attack care
- Focus on symptom onset and first medical contact, emergency medical services, the emergency department and inpatient settings
“This certification demonstrates our commitment to providing care tailored to the specific needs of each patient,” Wolf said. “We’re dedicated to delivering timely and compassionate care to every cardiac patient who comes through our doors.”
Zooming out
Cardiovascular diseases rose 23% from 2021-22, according to an America’s Health Rankings study.
“It’s imperative for care teams to remain vigilant in the fight against heart disease,” said John Lee, a Texas Health Physicians Group interventional cardiologist and Texas Health Frisco medical staff member, in the release. “This certification holds us accountable for all of our continued efforts to continually advance and increase heart and vascular services for Frisco residents.”
