Memorial Medical Center continues commitment to high-quality heart attack care

The American College of Cardiology has once again recognized Memorial Medical Center for our demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. This week, Memorial was awarded Chest Pain Center Reaccreditation based on rigorous evaluation of our team’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

Memorial has been an accredited Chest Pain Center since 2012. The most recent reaccreditation is valid for two years.

This designation underscores our commitment to providing high quality emergency heart care close to home for the residents of Doña Ana County. To keep this designation, Memorial Medical Center continues to work closely with key community partners, including local first responders, to enhance coordination among everyone involved in a patient’s care – from first responders to the hospital emergency department team, from critical care staff to cardiac rehab.

As an accredited Chest Pain Center, Memorial has committed to a higher standard of care for emergency cardiac services, continual quality improvement in heart care, and community education and resources to help keep hearts healthy.

“Continuing our Chest Pain Center accreditation is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our clinical team, our community partners and the ACC, who have been working collaboratively to ensure our hospital is prepared to provide high quality care to patients when heart attacks strike,” said M. Rizwan Sardar, MD, Interventional Cardiologist and Memorial Medical Center's Medical Director of Cardiology. “Our top priority is to provide quality healthcare close to home, and this accomplishment demonstrates one of the many ways we continually work to enhance and improve our service, and advance our mission of Making Communities Healthier.”

“Memorial Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to providing Southern New Mexico with excellent heart care,” added Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board.

The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Memorial Medical Center 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.

The warning signs of heart disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., responsible for one in four deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). But it doesn’t have to Through education and early treatment, heart disease can be successfully treated and, in many cases, even prevented.

Protect yourself and your loved ones by knowing the warning signs and symptoms people may experience before a heart attack:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Upper body pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw or upper stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea, lightheadedness or cold sweats

While these are the primary signs of heart attack in adults, women can often experience less commons signs and symptoms, such as:

•  Sharp, burning chest pain Fluttering in the chest (also known as arrhythmia)
• Pain in the neck, jaw, abdomen or throat
• Upper back pain
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Nausea or vomiting
• Extreme fatigue
• Upper body discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the feet, ankles, legs or abdomen

The good news is that everyone can lower the risk of heart disease by knowing these early signs of heart attack and practicing good preventive habits, including exercising regularly, eating a nutritious diet, avoiding smoking and controlling your blood pressure.

If you or someone you know experiences symptoms of a heart attack, contact 911 immediately or proceed to the nearest emergency room or Accredited Chest Pain Center.