NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield has received full accreditation with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) from the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC). “This accreditation marks another significant goal for NorthBay Healthcare,” says Kathy Richerson, vice president and chief nursing officer for NorthBay Healthcare.

“We have chosen to compare our programs to the highest standards and benchmarks available to ensure we are providing the best care possible.We have now met the gold standard for providing excellence in care for patients experiencing a heart attack. I am especially proud of our staff and physicians who worked hard to achieve this distinction.”

The hospital first earned Chest Pain Center accreditation in 2009. Its new certification included an extensive review of how patients with blocked arteries receive interventional treatments (PCI) in its Cardiac Catheterization Lab.

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 people dying annually of heart disease. More than 5 million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain.

SCPC’s goal is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients 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.

In addition to being an accredited Chest Pain Center, NorthBay Medical Center has been designated a STEMI Receiving Center, meaning patients in Solano County suffering severe heart attacks are brought to this hospital alone.