Lakeland Regional Health Receives ACC Accreditation as a Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation

LAKELAND, Fla. – The American College of Cardiology has once again recognized Lakeland Regional Health for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. Lakeland Regional Health has earned a three-year renewal of its Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI and Resuscitation, based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

Lakeland Regional Health’s Chest Pain Center, part of the Jack and Tina Harrell Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, is Polk County’s only accredited Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation. The hospital first earned the special designation in 2019.

“We are pleased to provide the highest level of comprehensive and life-saving cardiac care for our patients at Lakeland Regional Health,” said Dr. Timothy J. Regan, President of Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center and Chief Medical Officer of Lakeland Regional Health. “Our physicians, nurses and team members dedicate themselves every day to upholding the most stringent standards of cardiac care in order to achieve the best outcomes.”

Primary PCI, or primary percutaneous coronary intervention, is an emergency procedure to open a blocked artery in the heart without surgery. Also known as coronary angioplasty, PCI uses a balloon to relieve symptoms of heart disease or reduce heart damage during or following a heart attack.

Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation, such as Lakeland Regional Health, have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available at all times. Accredited chest pain centers also comply with standard Chest Pain Center protocols, are equipped with robust hypothermia program for post-cardiac arrest treatment and maintain a “No Diversion Policy” for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

“Lakeland Regional Health has demonstrated its commitment to providing Polk County with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Lakeland Regional Health with Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 730,000 people in the U.S. suffer heart attacks every year. Symptoms may include chest pain or discomfort; shortness of breath; pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm or shoulder; and feeling nauseous, light-headed or unusually tired.