Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks Receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation

Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Hecktown Oaks recently received chest pain center accreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC), showing it meets rigorous guidelines and expectations for treating patients with chest pain or other heart attack symptoms.

LVH–Hecktown Oaks, located in Lower Nazareth Township in central Northampton County near Route 33, opened in late June 2021.

“This is a multi-disciplinary approach to improve outcomes,” explains cardiologist Ronak Patel, MD, with Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute. “There are processes and procedures we follow to meet or exceed expectations for chest pain care. Key to that is a timely assessment of the cause of a patient’s chest pain.”

Patel says rapid and efficient assessments at accredited facilities like LVH–Hecktown Oaks are key. “We want to assess patients as quickly as possible,” he says. Anyone experiencing chest pain or other heart attack symptoms should call 911 so they can be taken to the nearest hospital emergency room. “In the case of a heart attack, time is heart muscle,” he says.

LVH–Hecktown Oaks does not currently offer interventional cardiac care, such as heart catheterization. Patients seen at LVH–Hecktown Oaks who require more advanced heart care can quickly be transported to LVH–Muhlenberg, under nine miles away.

Chelsea McHugh, clinical quality specialist with Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, says the goal for a potential heart attack patient at an ACC-accredited facility is to have an EKG completed and interpreted by a health care provider in 10 minutes or less.

“You don’t know if your symptoms are heart-related until you rule it in or out,” McHugh says. “At LVH–Hecktown Oaks, you’ll receive prompt, appropriate care.”

McHugh says ACC-accredited chest pain centers apply standardized evidence-based care and implement practices backed by long-term evidence. She said accredited hospitals are constantly looking at process improvements to improve patient care and conduct continuous staff education to stay current with standards.

LVH–Hecktown Oaks is accredited for three years and will seek reaccreditation in 2025.