RICHMOND, Ky. – June 29, 2010 – Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center announces that it has received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC), an international organization dedicated to eliminating heart disease as the number one cause of
death worldwide.

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 people dying annually of heart disease. More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. SCPC’s goal is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time that it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.

“A matter of minutes can make a difference when treating patients with symptoms of a heart attack. At Pattie A. Clay we know it is important to have the highest level of chest pain expertise to be able to take care of our community right here in Madison County. That’s why this
Accreditation is so important to our community,” said Jill Cornelison, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice-President of Patient Care Services.

Hospitals that have received SCPC accreditation have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. They emphasize the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms.

The Accredited Chest Pain Center at Pattie A. Clay has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and undergoing an onsite review by a team of SPCP specialists for its ability to assess, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. To the community served by Pattie A.
Clay, this means that processes are in place that meet strict criteria aimed at:

• Reducing the time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment 
• Treating patients more quickly during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved 
• Monitoring patients when it is not certain that they are having a heart attack to ensure that they are not sent home too quickly or needlessly admitted to the hospital

“People tend to wait when they think they might be having a heart attack, and that’s a mistake,” states Connie Brock, Pattie A. Clay Chest Pain Coordinator. “The average patient arrives in the emergency department more than two hours after the onset of symptoms, but what they don’t realize is that the sooner a heart attack is treated, the less damage to the heart and the better the outcome for the patient.”

Pattie A. Clay’s state-of-the-art healthcare encompasses the entire continuum of care for the heart patient. By becoming an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Pattie A. Clay has enhanced the quality of care for the cardiac patient and has demonstrated its commitment to higher standards.

About Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center Pattie A. Clay RMC, founded in 1892 and located on the Eastern By-pass in Richmond, has grown and evolved in direct response to the changing healthcare needs of the people it serves. It is a nonprofit healthcare provider delivering
a continuum of care from birth to end of life, and every stage in between. It serves the Richmond and surrounding communities through several locations, including the main hospital, outpatient facilities, Instant Care Center, Wound Care Center, Occupational Medicine Center, Health and Education Center, Garrard County Clinic and physician offices.

About the Society of Chest Pain Centers Established in 1998, SCPC is a patient-centric nonprofit international organization focused on improving care for patients with heart disease. Central to SCPC’s mission is the question, “What is right for the patient?” In response, SCPC promotes protocol-based medicine, often delivered
through a chest pain center model, to address the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndrome and heart failure and to promote the adoption of process improvement science by healthcare providers. To best fulfill this mission, SCPC provides accreditation and education to facilities striving for optimum cardiac care. SCPC is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more
information on SCPC and accreditation opportunities, visit www.scpcp.org, or call toll free 1-877-271-4176.