[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 30, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF NORTH HILLS HOSPITAL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 30, 2012

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize North Hills 
Hospital in North Richland Hills, Texas as the first and only hospital 
in the nation to be recognized as a Cycle 4 with PCI Chest Pain Center.
  The Cycle 4 accreditation by the Society of Chest Pain Centers is the 
newest and most stringent available, requiring demonstrated commitment 
and capacity to reduce time to treatment during the critical early 
stages of a heart attack.
  Surveyors with the Society of Chest Pain Centers require 
demonstration of extensive community education and reduction in door-
to-balloon times. A list of the rigorous requirements includes 
integrating the emergency department with the local emergency medical 
system; assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients quickly; 
effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome 
without assignable cause for their symptoms; continually seeking to 
improve processes and procedures; ensuring the competence and training 
of Accredited Chest Pain Center personnel; maintaining organizational 
structure and commitment; having a functional design that promotes 
optimal patient care; and supporting community outreach programs that 
educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display 
symptoms of a possible heart attack.
  National recognition for North Hills Hospital and the Center for 
Chest Pain is a tribute to the cooperative efforts between the Center, 
capably led by Dr. Roy Yamada, and the dedicated emergency responders 
of north Tarrant County. As evidence of their skill and 
professionalism, the EMS and fire departments of the local communities 
of North Richland Hills, Keller, Hurst and Richland Hills EMS, as well 
as MedStar, are afforded the unique time-saving authority to activate 
the catheter lab from the field.
  North Hills Hospital and local EMS personnel are integral to the 
quality of life enjoyed by residents they serve in North Tarrant 
County. Thanks to their professional commitment, residents have a 
greater probability of early diagnosis of a possible heart attack and 
an increased likelihood of accurate and effective treatment for a 
successful outcome.
  It is my honor to recognize the valuable contributions of North Hills 
Hospital, the Center for Chest Pain and the crucial role of our North 
Texas emergency responders. It is my honor to represent them and the 
residents of the communities they serve in the U.S. House of 
Representatives.

                          ____________________