Merit Health River Oaks Hospital Receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI from American College of Cardiology

The American College of Cardiology has recognized Merit Health River Oaks for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. The Flowood hospital was awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI in December, 2020 after excelling in a rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary arteries to relieve symptoms of heart disease or reduce heart damage during or after a heart attack. In the first year the service was provided, nearly 200 PCI procedures were performed, providing potentially life-saving care within the recognized critical window of time.

Merit Health River Oaks chief executive officer Dwayne Blaylock said, "Our ability to efficiently and effectively treat cardiac emergencies has long been a source of comfort to patients that live in the surrounding area or that simply choose our hospital for all of their healthcare needs,” said Blaylock. “Therefore, to be recognized nationally for excellence in care further solidifies our determination to continue to excel in this vital area. I am proud of our entire team for achieving this significant accreditation."

The hospital opened an interventional cardiac catheterization laboratory, a much needed service in the community, in 2019. Merit Health River Oaks was the first Mississippi hospital to gain approval to offer 24-hour interventional cardiac catheterization care without on-site cardiac surgical services. This new service allowed more clinically complex care to heart patients when time is of the essence.

“Merit Health River Oaks has demonstrated its commitment to providing its patients with excellent heart care,” said Phillip D. Levy, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Merit Health River Oaks with Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI Accreditation,” Levy said.

Each year, about 730,000 Americans suffer a heart attack, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. Additional heart attack symptoms include, but are not limited to, tingling or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweat, unusual tiredness, heartburn-like feeling, nausea or vomiting, sudden dizziness and fainting.

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. Call 9-1-1 if you notice symptoms of a heart attack in yourself or someone with you.

To learn more about Merit Health River Oaks’ cardiac services, call 601-932-1030.

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