John Muir Health Receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation

Hospitals Recognized for Breadth of Cardiovascular Services

WALNUT CREEK, California — John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus and John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus have both received the highest level of Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers, an international non-profit focused on improving care for cardiac patients. John Muir Health`s two hospitals are among only 500 hospitals nationwide accredited as Chest Pain Centers.

More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain, which often signals a heart attack. With heart attacks being the leading cause of death in the United States, people experiencing chest pain or discomfort may seek a Chest Pain Center to make sure they receive a full continuum of consistent quality cardiac care.

"The immediate treatment of chest pain helps prevent heart muscle damage, and it can save lives," said Susan Eisenberg, M.D., medical director of John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus Chest Pain Center. "Our cardiovascular services are built on a tradition of compassionate care, leading-edge technology, and excellent patient outcomes and this accreditation reflects the skill of our team of physicians, nurses, and staff."

To meet strict accreditation standards for chest pain centers, John Muir Health has demonstrated wide expertise in key areas of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic cardiovascular services, including:

• Integrating the emergency department with the local emergency medical system
• Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients quickly
• Effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome
• Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
• Ensuring Chest Pain Center personnel competency and training
• Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care

"It is important for the community to know that if you or your loved one is experiencing chest pain that can potentially signal a heart attack, you can come to John Muir Health and receive nationally recognized, highest-quality care," said Patrick Kavanaugh, M.D., medical director of John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus Chest Pain Center. "With our Concord Campus opening a new tower by the end of 2010, much of which is dedicated to cardiovascular care, we will continue to build clinical excellence and improve patient outcomes for our full complement of cardiovascular services."

Accreditation with the SCPC is awarded for three years and ensures that a center meets or exceeds quality-of-care standards in acute cardiac medicine.

To learn more about John Muir Health cardiovascular services, visit: www.johnmuirhealth.com/cardiac

About John Muir Health

John Muir Health is a not-for-profit organization that includes John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus, a 327-bed medical center that serves as Contra Costa County`s only designated trauma center; and John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus, a 254-bed medical center in Concord. Together, they are recognized as preeminent centers for cardiovascular care, orthopedics, neurosciences, cancer care and high-risk obstetrics and newborn care. Also part of John Muir Health is the John Muir Behavioral Health Center, the John Muir Physician Network and outpatient centers in Brentwood and Rossmoor.

About the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC)

The Society of Chest Pain Centers is a patient centric non-profit international professional organization focused upon improving care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and other related maladies. Established in 1998, the Society is dedicated to patient advocacy and focusing on ischemic heart disease. Central to its mission is the question, "What is right for the patient?" In answer, the Society promotes protocol based medicine, often delivered through a Chest Pain Center model to address the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, and to promote the adoption of process improvement science by healthcare providers. To best fulfill this mission, the Society of Chest Pain Centers provides accreditation to facilities striving for optimum Chest Pain Center care. SCPC is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

For more information on the Society of Chest Pain Centers visit www.scpcp.org, or contact Robert Lipetz, Executive Director at (614) 442-5950 or .

(Posted September 29, 2009)