Libertyville, IL (May 6, 2009) — Libertyville, IL -- Advocate Condell Medical Center received full accreditation as a Chest Pain Center from the Society of Chest Pain Centers. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 dying annually of heart disease.

More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. As an accredited Chest Pain Center, Condell Medical Center aims to reduce cardiac related death by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time that it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment. “Time is critical in preserving heart muscle and saving lives,” said Jason Hallock, MD, emergency physician and medical director of the Condell Chest Pain Center. “Recent advancements in treating heart attack have greatly reduced the deaths and disabilities from heat attacks, but success dependents on rapid treatment.”

Condell’s designation as an accredited Chest Pain Center follows proven standards for reducing the time it takes for a patient to receive treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack, when treatments are most effective. Patients are closely monitored when it is not immediately clear whether they are having a coronary event to ensure that, if needed, they go to the catheterization lab so a blocked coronary artery can be opened in the shortest amount of time.

Condell Medical Center provides the full range of cardiac care from prevention to open heart surgery to recovery and rehabilitation. Condell's cardiovascular team is focused on treating coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart valve disease, cardiac rhythm disturbances and peripheral vascular disease. “Our paramedics are trained to begin treatment of heart attack symptoms when responding to 911 emergencies,” said Fire Chief Richard Carani, Libertyville Fire Department. “Rapid communication from ambulance to Condell alerts the hospital cardiac team to be ready to begin life-saving procedures immediately upon patient arrival.” According to the Society of Chest Pain Centers, Condell Medical Center has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria.

Key areas in which Condell Medical Center demonstrates expertise include:

• Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients quickly
• Effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms
• Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
• Ensuring Chest Pain Center personnel competency and training
• Maintaining organizational structure and commitment
• Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care
• Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack Always call 911 – Even if you are not sure it is a heart attack. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most start slowly with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Heart Attack Warning Signs
• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

For more information regarding Advocate Condell Medical Center’s Chest Pain Center or Cardiology Services, please call 1-800-3ADVOCATE.

About Condell Medical Center Advocate Condell Medical Center is the leading provider of comprehensive medical and surgical services in Lake County, with state-of-the-art heart, neurosurgical, maternity and emergency services. Other services include: Condell Immediate Care facilities throughout Lake County, Centre Clubs (medically supervised fitness facilities), Pediatric Alternatives in Creative Therapy, Radiation Oncology Center, Home Care Services and the Condell Day Center for Intergenerational Care. Physicians are independent practitioners and are not employees or agents of Advocate Condell Medical Center. About the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC) The Society of Chest Pain Centers is a patient centric non-profit international professional organization focused upon improving care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and other related maladies. Established in 1998, the Society is dedicated to patient advocacy and focusing on ischemic heart disease. Central to its mission is the question, “What is right for the patient?” In answer, the Society promotes protocol based medicine, often delivered through a Chest Pain Center model to address the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, and to promote the adoption of process improvement science by healthcare providers. To best fulfill this mission, the Society of Chest Pain Centers provides accreditation to facilities striving for optimum Chest Pain Center care. SCPC is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information on the Society of Chest Pain Centers visit www.scpcp.org, or contact Robert Lipetz, Executive Director at (614) 442-5950 or director@scpcp.org.