Lincoln Medical Center
|  | Chest Pain Center
Chest Pain Accreditation
An Accredited Chest Pain Center symbolizes a facilities’ commitment to improving the quality of care to the Chest Pain Patient.
 The Saint Thomas Chest Pain Center Network Includes:
- Saint Thomas Hospital, Nashville, TN• Henry County Medical Center, Paris, TN
- Baptist Hospital, Nashville, TN
- Williamson Medical Center, Franklin, TN
- Middle Tennessee Medical Center, Murfreesboro, TN
- Livingston Regional Hospital, Livingston, TN
- Southern Tennessee Medical Center, Winchester, TN
- Cumberland Medical Center, Crossville, TN
- Crockett Hospital, Lawrenceburg, TN
- Hickman Community Hospital, Centerville, TN
- Hardin Medical Center, Savannah, TN (pending)
- Monroe County Medical Center, Tomkinsville, KY (pending)
- Lincoln Medical Center, Fayetteville, TN
Goal of the Saint Thomas Chest Pain Network:
- Educate the community on warning signs and risk factors of heart disease
- Educate the community on the importance of seeking early intervention when experiencing symptoms of heart attack
- Improve community emergency access
- Improve diagnosis, treatment and intervention related to
- Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) at the local hospital
- Develop a dedicated observation setting that allows physicians to monitor patients when it is not clear if they are having a coronary event
Components of a Chest Pain Center:
The components of a Chest Pain Center includes the ENTIRE facility working together to provide the BEST possible care for the chest pain patient. From the 9-1-1 call that someone is having a heart attack - to the patient’s discharge after a heart attack - to cardiac intervention.
What is Acute Coronary Syndrome?
The term “acute coronary syndrome” is increasingly used to describe patients who present with either acute MI (either STEMI or NSTEMI), or unstable angina. These forms of heart disease happen when an occlusion of one or more coronary arteries occurs, usually following plaque rupture, resulting in decreased oxygen supply to the heart. This lack of oxygen may cause pain, damage, or death to the heart.
Some statistics according to the American Heart Association:
- Coronory Heart Disease is the largest killer of American males and females annually.
- The estimated annual incidence of MI is 600,000 new attacks and 320, 000 recurrent attacks = that’s almost 1 million MI’s per year!
- About 38% of people who experience a coronary attack in a given year will die from it.
- About 82% of people who die from coronary heart disease are age 65 or older.
- The average age of a person having their first attack is 64.5 for men and 70.4 for women.
- So what does that mean to us? We need to be able to recognize ACS and treat it appropriately!
What are the major risk factors?
- Any history of coronary heart disease (personal or family history)
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Not exercising or being overweight
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Your risk also increases with age (men >33 years and women >40 years
What are the signs and symptoms of ACS?
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Pain or discomfort in arms, shoulders, neck back or jaw
- Indigestion/heartburn
- Nausea/vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath
- Diaphoresis
- Syncope
Consider ACS for the following complaints so we don’t miss anyone!!
- Chest pain in ANYONE over the age of 16
- Abdominal pain in MEN >40 years or WOMEN >50 years
- Nausea/vomiting and ALL DIABETICS,MEN >40 years and WOMEN >50 years
- Shortness of breath in ALL diabetics, ALL known history of heart disease, and
- ANY new onset
- Syncope - In ANYONE
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