The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has announced that Baptist Health Medical Center in Hot Spring County and North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison have become the first non-percutaneous coronary intervention (non-PCI) hospitals in Arkansas to achieve Acute Heart Attack Ready certification. The certification, awarded by the Joint Commission, recognizes the hospitals’ ability to quickly identify and treat heart attack patients while ensuring swift transfer to facilities with advanced cardiac care when necessary.
“During a heart attack, every minute matters,” said Dr. Bala Simon, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for ADH, in a statement. “We commend Baptist Health Medical Center and North Arkansas Regional Medical Center for their commitment to strengthening heart attack care in their communities. This certification demonstrates that these hospitals have systems in place to provide immediate care and coordinate timely transfers for advanced treatment when needed.”
The certification is the result of a collaborative effort involving the Arkansas Department of Health, the American Heart Association, and the Joint Commission. To support these efforts, ADH provided funding and ongoing assistance to hospitals working toward this designation. Financial support for the program was made available through the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant.
The Acute Heart Attack Ready certification underlines the importance of early recognition and treatment in heart attack cases. Non-PCI hospitals, which are facilities without the capability to perform percutaneous coronary intervention—a procedure commonly used to open blocked arteries—play a critical role in stabilizing patients and facilitating timely transfers to PCI-capable centers.
The Arkansas Department of Health is offering additional funding and technical assistance to hospitals seeking to achieve the certification. Details about the program can be found on the ADH Grant & Bid Opportunities webpage under “DH-27-0002: Heart Attack Designation.”