Good Samaritan Hospital received full Atrial Fibrillation Certification status from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) on October 2, 2014. Certification expires on October 1, 2017.
“We are very proud of this distinction; it is a testament to the coordination of care between emergency medicine and cardiology. It shows we offer the highest level of care for patients who present with atrial fibrillation,” said Leigh- Ann Periard, Director of Emergency Services.
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. Nearly 3 million patients in the United States have atrial fibrillation and the numbers are rapidly increasing as our population ages. Atrial fibrillation patients use more healthcare services and have much higher healthcare costs than those without the disease. 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.
Good Samaritan Hospital 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. Good Samaritan Hospital’s protocol-driven and systematic approach to patient evaluation and management allows physicians to reduce time to treatment and to risk stratify patients to decrease their length of stay in the emergency department and the hospital. Key areas in which a facility with Atrial Fibrillation Certification must demonstrate expertise include the following:
- Emergency Department Integration with Emergency Medical Services
- Emergency Assessment of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
- Risk Stratification of the Atrial Fibrillation Patient
- Treatment for Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department in Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Fibrillation Discharge Criteria from the Emergency Department, Observation Services, or Inpatient Stay
- Atrial Fibrillation Patient Education in the Emergency Department, Observation Services, and Inpatient Unit
- Personnel, Competencies and Training
- Process Improvement
- Organizational Structure and Commitment
- Atrial Fibrillation Community Outreach
About Good Samaritan Hospital
Good Samaritan Hospital is a 474 bed acute care hospital in the heart of Silicon Valley, with two locations, the main campus in San Jose, California and Mission Oaks campus in Los Gatos, California. Good Samaritan is recognized as a leader in neurosciences, high risk obstetrics, comprehensive cancer services, advanced cardiology and innovative surgery techniques.
Readers of Bay Area Parent magazine have chosen Good Samaritan as the "Bay Area's Best Place to Have a Baby" and "Family Favorite Hospital" for over 10 years. Good Samaritan is only one of ten hospitals to be award four consecutive times with the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. The hospital is also an accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center and Chest Pain Center. Through quality initiatives and innovative clinical practices, Good Samaritan Hospital offers excellent compassionate care to the people of Silicon Valley and surrounding areas. For more information visit, www.goodsamsanjose.com.
About the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) is an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction. As the only cross-specialty organization, SCPC provides the support needed for individual hospitals and hospital systems to effectively bridge existing gaps in treatment by providing the tools, education and support necessary to successfully navigate the changing face of healthcare. For more information on SCPC, accreditation and certification opportunities, visit www.scpcp.org, or call toll free (877) 271-4176.