DeWine Introduces Bill to Better Treat Potential Heart Disease Patients

DEWINE INTRODUCES BILL TO BETTER TREAT POTENTIAL HEART DISEASE PATIENTS

U.S. Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH) today introduced the Heart Attack Safety Act of 2005 that would improve services and treatment of patients who are possibly suffering from a heart attack. While heart attacks are the number one cause of death in the United States, there is currently no national system that directs patients to the best available facility for treatment. In addition, there is no accreditation process for hospitals that designate themselves as Chest Pain Centers. This creates potentially unsafe circumstances where, in an emergency, patients can be directed to a self-designated facility and not receive optimum care.

"This bill corrects an unsafe environment in our current healthcare community," said Senator DeWine. "We already have a system in place that directs Emergency Medical Technicians to take patients to accredited trauma centers if they are in a serious accident. This bill improves the current haphazard system to ensure our families get the necessary information and treatment they need, improving their chances of surviving a heart attack."

The Heart Attack Safety Act of 2005 would require any hospital that receives Medicare funding to meet independent standards set by the Secretary of Health and Human Services before they can call themselves a Chest Pain Center. This would ensure the public is not misinformed regarding the capabilities of local institutions and will allow patients to be directed to a facility that will provide an optimal level of treatment for heart attack patients.

http://dewine.senate.gov/