In recognition of their reliably rapid and accurate medical care, John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital and John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital have been acknowledged by experts for their excellence in emergency care for cardiac arrest patients.
The Arizona Department of Health Services has named both Phoenix hospitals Cardiac Arrest Centers for their state-of-the-art treatment of patients whose hearts have stopped beating.
Cardiac Arrest Centers developed because more than 50 percent of cardiac arrest patients resuscitated in the field did not survive to hospital discharge. "They provide specialized cardiac care that increases survival rates," said Linda Ott, RN, clinical director of the Deer Valley Emergency Department.
Survival Rates Improve with Launch of Cardiac Arrest Center Program
Since Arizona launched its Cardiac Arrest Center credentialing program, cardiac arrest survival rates in the state have improved by 68 percent, said Susan Hopf, RN, BSN, CCRN, clinical director of Critical Care and Cardiovascular Services at North Mountain.
"But the goal for credentialed Cardiac Arrest Centers is not just to save lives," Hopf said. "The goal is also to improve neurological recovery so our patients are able to resume normal daily functioning."
Part of the Cardiac Arrest Center's care is induction of mild hypothermia in qualified patients during the first hours after cardiac arrest. Cooling the brain to 89 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit has been shown to help keep the brain stable and improve neurological recovery.
The innovative form of cardiac care either prevents or mitigates permanent postanoxic (lack of oxygen) brain injury and may help preserve the heart and kidneys.
John C. Lincoln's credentialed Phoenix Cardiac Arrest Centers also:
- Provide 24/7 cardiac intervention, including protocols for treating out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
- Collect data in a system congruent with state statistical management.
- Commit to contribute data to the state.
Learn more about emergency heart care in Phoenix, at John C. Lincoln Health Network, at JCL.com/heart. |