UPMC McKeesport Cleared to Provide Elective Angioplasty
By: Rick Pietzak
UPMC McKeesport has joined UPMC East in receiving accreditation in 2014 from Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE), a national, independent organization that evaluates and monitors facilities that provide cardiac care. Coordinated with the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), the accreditation enables the Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC McKeesport to begin offering elective angioplasty, a procedure to clear blockages in the heart vessels.
ACE accreditation recognizes UPMC McKeesport for maintaining high standards set by experts in cardiac care.
In January 2014, the Pennsylvania DOH announced that cardiac catheterization laboratories preparing to provide elective angioplasty services without onsite surgery must be accredited by a state-approved organization. The approval process required each facility to complete a minimum of 200 angioplasty procedures per year, develop a formal angioplasty training program and establish protocols and policies to assure safe patient care.
In August, UPMC East was the first facility to complete the process and receive ACE accreditation.
ACE accreditation recognizes UPMC McKeesport for maintaining high standards set by experts in cardiac care.
