Baptist Health Lexington First In The Nation To Receive Atrial Fibrillation With EPS Accreditation

LEXINGTON, Ky., Dec. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Baptist Health Lexington is the first facility in the United States to receive full Atrial Fibrillation with Electrophysiology Services (EPS) Accreditation status from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC).

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and has become recognized as a health concern that in some cases can lead to stroke and possible death. More than 5 million patients in the United States have atrial fibrillation and the numbers are rapidly increasing as the population ages.

Electrophysiology, the cardiac specialty that deals with the electrical impulses of the heart, utilizes continually advancing technology to help patients with cardiac arrhythmias.

"We have always been committed to providing the highest quality heart care to our patients," said Baptist Health Lexington President William G. Sisson. "Being the first in the nation to earn the atrial fibrillation with EPS accreditation is further validation that our entire cardiac care team has the skills, knowledge and dedication to provide the most cutting-edge heart care in the country."

Baptist Health Lexington has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and undergoing a comprehensive review by an accreditation review specialist from the SCPC. Baptist Health Lexington's evidence-based, science-driven and systematic approach to patient evaluation and management allows physicians to reduce time to treatment and to determine patients' risks to decrease their length of stay in the emergency department and the hospital.

SCPC's goal is to help facilities evaluate and manage the atrial fibrillation patient more effectively, improve patient outcomes, and educate patients and healthcare providers to more efficiently care for this disease.

Key essentials areas in which a facility with Atrial Fibrillation with EPS Accreditation must demonstrate expertise include the following:

• Governance Improve performance by effectively aligning people and services.
• Community Outreach Increase public awareness and community education initiatives; develop partnerships with primary and specialty health care providers, care facilities, local businesses, and employers; provide consultation services and support groups.
• Pre-Acute Care Integrate out-of-hospital interventions delivered by community healthcare providers and first responders.
• Early Stabilization Address immediate concerns in triage and perform initial activities related to risk assessment and stabilization.
• Acute Care Employ a multidisciplinary, patient-centric approach from observation (or admission) through discharge to ensure an appropriate LOS and optimal patient outcome.
• Transitional Care Prevent unnecessary re-admissions with established care coordination at discharge, including early follow-up care and patient/family education.
• Clinical Quality Measures Measure performance and outcomes related to thromboembolic and bleeding risk assessment, cardioversion, readmission, follow-up, and others; trend performance over time; use the data to improve quality.

About Baptist Health Lexington
Celebrating 60 years, Baptist Health Lexington is a 383-bed major medical research and education center in Lexington, Kentucky, delivering excellent health care, leading-edge technology and compassionate medical services.

Distinguished three times as a Top Performer by the Joint Commission, Baptist Health Lexington holds several prestigious recognitions denoting its excellence in quality cardiac services. The oncology program's national accreditations signify that the hospital uses the latest skills, knowledge and technology to help patients overpower cancer.

Committed to making quality healthcare services convenient, Baptist Health Lexington operates six outlying outpatient centers, including locations in Georgetown, Nicholasville and Richmond.

Recognized with Magnet status for its quality nursing care, the hospital continues to lead in maternity care, having delivered nearly 150,000 babies since 1954.

For more information on cardiovascular services available at Baptist Health Lexington, visit www.baptistheartcare.com or call 859-260-5500.

About the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) is an international, nonprofit organization that focuses on transforming cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their efforts to create communities of excellence that deliver quality care and patient satisfaction in a cost sensitive environment. SCPC offers individual hospitals and hospital systems the support needed to effectively reduce variations of care and bridge existing gaps in treatment. Through its collaboration with actively engaged, multidisciplinary teams, SCPC is "Taking Science to the Bedside" and improving outcomes in the management of heart disease

For more information on SCPC's accreditation and certification opportunities, visit www.scpc.org, or call toll free 1-877-271-4176.

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SOURCE Baptist Health Lexington