The University of Texas Medical Branch Clear Lake Campus recently achieved Chest Pain Center Accreditation through the American College of Cardiology following an extensive 12-month review by a multidisciplinary team of staff and providers.

Chest Pain Center Accreditation is a quality improvement program designed for hospital cardiovascular teams that are focused on the efficient and effective care of acute coronary syndrome patients.

Ann Varghese, administrator for the Clear Lake Campus, said that this accreditation helps validate the excellent delivery and quality of cardiac care that heart attack patients always experience at the Clear Lake Campus.

“The engagement of our staff was phenomenal,” Varghese said. “They supported the goals of the program and helped with data collection, protocol updates and community education. This achievement is a reflection of the team’s focus and dedication to delivering excellent care.” 

There are three types of accreditation designations awarded by the American College of Cardiology—UTMB’s accreditation includes the Primary PCI designation, which means the Clear Lake Campus has a call team comprised of cardiac catherization lab staff and an interventional cardiologist available 24/7.

“Patients should look for a hospital that has protocols in place to quickly provide the most appropriate intervention in a timely manner with great quality outcomes,” Varghese said. “We exceed benchmarks for the care given to our cardiac patients experiencing a heart attack. Our teams are activated and respond in less than 30 minutes to ensure quick intervention to decrease mortality and deliver best outcomes in our patient population.” 

For more information on Chest Pain Center Accreditation, visit https://cvquality.acc.org/accreditation/services/chest-pain-center-accreditation.