January 2022 – The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognised Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with heart attacks.

Lenmed Ethekwini Private Hospital and Heart Centre is the first in Africa to be awarded Chest Pain Centre Accreditation with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), based on a rigorous evaluation of the hospital team’s ability to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

PCI or coronary angioplasty is a procedure used to open clogged heart arteries and uses a tiny balloon catheter that is inserted in a blocked blood vessel to help widen it and improve blood flow to the heart.

In South Africa, every hour, 5 (five) people experience a heart attack, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa. Heart disease is responsible for over 17% of all deaths in South Africa and is the leading cause of death second to HIV/AIDS. Importantly, the treatment of a heart attack is time-sensitive, the quicker you can receive treatment the lower the risk of damage to the heart muscle. Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre, during its evaluation, was found to meet the stringent requirements to urgently treat heart attacks.

“Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre has demonstrated its commitment to providing KwaZulu-Natal with excellent heart care,” said Dr Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre with Chest Pain Centre and Primary PCI Accreditation.”

Hospitals receiving the accreditation from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that involves a year-long progression of analysing current procedures and systems, improving methods and strategies to care for patients, assuring alignment to international guidelines, standards and best practices as well as community education. The accreditation also ensures holistic patient care – where the hospital’s relationships and partnerships with emergency services, pathology, doctors, the entire network and employees served them well – enabling the early intervention and total care of the patient, including post-discharge requirements for recovery.

“We are incredibly proud of Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre in achieving this accolade, a testament to the incredible dedication of our cardiologists and clinical teams to saving lives and improving our patients’ quality of life. We are honoured to be the first hospital in Africa to receive this accreditation and continue our mission to ensure the best possible outcomes for our communities,” said Amil Devchand, Lenmed CEO.

Niresh Bechan, Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre CEO, reminded the public to check for symptoms of a heart attack. “Always seek immediate medical attention for any chest pain or discomfort. Other symptoms include, but are not limited to, tingling or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweat, unusual tiredness, heartburn-like feeling, nausea or vomiting, sudden dizziness and fainting. If you experience any of these symptoms, please call our emergency response immediately on +27 (0) 861 344 237.”

Dr Cassim Hansa, a lead cardiologist on the team added, “Our success in achieving the ACC accreditation is down to how the entire team mobilised and worked together. This was because of the commitment from each and every individual in the system, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, porters, the hospital management and administration team. Most importantly, the ultimate outcome is improved patient care and the long-term benefit for those who present to our hospital with a heart attack. And that is a goal we should not lose sight of, as in the end this is about optimising our care for better patient outcomes. I am personally proud to be part of this team that worked very hard in achieving these goals.”

Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre is an ultra-sophisticated and digitally integrated hospital north of Durban boasting an extensive and leading adult and paediatric cardiac and cardiothoracic service offering. It is the only hospital in KwaZulu-Natal that offers much-needed services for paediatric cardiac surgery. The hospital has been voted as one of SA’s top 20 hospitals, for five consecutive years. The hospital is part of the Lenmed Group of hospitals, which owns and manage 12 hospitals in South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. For more, visit www.lenmed.co.za.

Should you require more information on community awareness or would like to schedule a talk at your facility, please call Sheena Dhunlal on +27 (0) 31 581 2400.

About the American College of Cardiology

The ACC offers the U.S. and international hospitals, like Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre, access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimise patient outcomes and improve hospital performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including emergency treatment of heart attacks.

The ACC envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimise cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its 54,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and lead in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journal, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.

For any further information, please contact Lenmed Group Marketing and Communications Manager: Michelle Naidoo on +27 (0) 87 087 0600 or [email protected].