News Release

WARSAW — The team at Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital is marking the beginning of American Heart Month by celebrating its 15th year as an Accredited Chest Pain Center from the American College of Cardiology.

One of the most commonly treated conditions in the emergency room is chest pain. The protocols designed by the Lutheran Kosciusko medical team mean the time to treatment is reduced during the critical early stages of a heart attack when interventions are most effective.

“Every patient who comes in with signs of a heart attack is treated by a team that has been trained to the highest level of expertise, allowing them to make a rapid assessment and diagnosis,” said Amy Watts, RN, emergency department manager and chest pain coordinator for Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital. “That quick, consistent response helps to ensure patients receive proper care at the most critical time.”

Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital also offers Level 1 Heart, a system that enhances the level of care for acute heart attack patients in the region. Level I Heart connects Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital to the main Lutheran campus, which integrates physicians, staff and surgical teams to expedite care. If patients are experiencing chest pain or symptoms of a heart attack and a Lutheran Kosciusko ER physician determines the patient needs immediate access to a cardiac catheterization lab, patients can be quickly transferred to Lutheran Hospital where 24-hour interventional cardiology is available.

“We are proud to celebrate our well-established accredited chest pain center capabilities and our Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital team providing patients with life-saving cardiac care in our community,” said Lynn Mergen, CEO of Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital.

Learn more about the chest pain center services at lutherankosciuskohospital.com/accredited-chest-pain-center.