Baptist Health Paducah receives the American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation reaccreditation
PADUCAH, KY (Sept. 11, 2025) — The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has once again recognized Baptist Health Paducah for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. Baptist Health Paducah was awarded the Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI and Resuscitation in August based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 730,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are more likely to have atypical symptoms. Other 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.
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is also known as coronary angioplasty. It is a non-surgical procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary arteries with a balloon to relieve symptoms of heart disease or reduce heart damage during or after a heart attack.
Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24/7 every day of the year. As required to meet the criteria of the accreditation designation, they comply with standard Chest Pain Center protocols and are equipped with a robust hypothermia program for post-cardiac arrest treatment. These facilities also maintain a "No Diversion Policy" for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.
“Baptist Health Paducah has demonstrated its commitment to providing Paducah and surrounding areas 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 Baptist Health Paducah with Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation.”
Hospitals receiving Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that involves: completing a gap analysis; examining variances of care, developing an action plan; a rigorous onsite review; and monitoring for sustained success. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes, implementing of guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices in the care of patients experiencing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts leading to better patient education and improved patient outcomes.
“The American College of Cardiology sets national standards and best practices for Cardiac patients. Our goal is to quickly and effectively treat our cardiac patients in the community and support them throughout their stay at Baptist Health Paducah,” said Amy Osbron, Chest Pain – STEMI Program Coordinator at Baptist Health Paducah. “Our mission is to provide the community with access to the best cardiac care, close to home, without traveling to larger cities.”
"Our process of taking care of the patient starts before they even arrive at our facility. We participate in proactive outreach that educates the community on signs and symptoms of heart attacks and how to call for help. We emphasize the importance of calling 911 or arriving at our hospital as soon as the symptoms start so that our Cardiologists can save that muscle and get the heart vessels open. Time is crucial! Once we get that vessel open, we continue to care for the patient and get them discharged home sooner with better outcomes. After discharge, they can also take advantage of our Cardiac Rehab program and receive more one-on-one education and follow up with our team," Osbron added.
The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Baptist Health Paducah access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including emergency treatment of heart attacks.