Riverdale hospital recognized for cardiac care

Southern Regional Health System is now the only hospital on Atlanta’s south side that is accredited to treat heart attack patients.

The Society of Chest Pain Centers recognized the 331-bed Clayton County hospital for meeting or exceeding national standards for cardiac care, the hospital said Thursday.

Southern Regional is the only hospital in metro Atlanta to routinely perform angioplasties, a mechanical technique for widening narrowed or obstructed blood vessels quicker, according to Donna Waggoner, the hospital’s managing director of heart and vascular services. The Riverdale hospital performs more than 250 angioplasty procedures a year, Waggoner said.

The accreditation agency also recognized the hospital for its coordination with Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services.

“The partnership helps decrease overall time between the initial 911 call and treatment,” Waggoner said in a statement. “This is critical because treating patients quickly means saving more heart muscle.”

Southern Regional first received the accreditation in 2005. The new accreditation, which recognizes cardiac care with angioplasty capabilities, runs until 2012.

Southern Regional is one of six hospitals in Georgia to hold the highest level of cardiac accreditation. The only other in the metro area is Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville.