Re-accredited: The First Hospital in Africa to be Accredited by the ACC

Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre is proud to announce that it has been re-accredited by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for its outstanding cardiac treatment offered and specifically for ‘Chest Pain Centre Accreditation with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)’. This prestigious recognition reaffirms our commitment to providing the highest standard of cardiac care to our patients. The hospital, with its original accreditation, became the first hospital in Africa to be accredited by the ACC.

The ACC accreditation process is rigorous, involving a thorough review of the hospital’s protocols, outcomes, and adherence to international best practices in cardiovascular care. This re-accreditation signifies that Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre continues to meet and exceed the ACC’s stringent standards for quality and performance in treating cardiac-related conditions including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), commonly known as heart attacks.

“We are honoured to receive this re-accreditation from the American College of Cardiology,” said Niresh Bechan Hospital CEO “This achievement reflects the dedication and expertise of our cardiology team, nurses, support and pre-hospital teams, and their unwavering commitment to saving lives and improving patient outcomes.”

The re-accreditation process evaluated several key areas, including:

• Timely and Effective Treatment – Ensuring that heart attack patients receive prompt and appropriate care, from initial diagnosis to intervention.
• Comprehensive Care – Providing a full spectrum of cardiac services, from emergency response to rehabilitation and follow-up care.
• Patient Education and Support – Offering education and resources to help patients understand their condition and manage their heart health effectively.
• Quality Improvement Initiatives – Continuously monitoring and enhancing our cardiac care practices to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients.
• Community education – Ensuring the community is aware of cardiovascular disease risk factors, how to mitigate the disease, signs and symptoms and what to do if any are experienced.

“Our team’s dedication to continuous improvement and excellence in cardiac care is evident in this re-accreditation,” said Dr Nilesh Patel, Chief Medical Officer at Lenmed, “We are committed to staying at the forefront of cardiovascular medicine and ensuring that our patients receive the highest level of care possible.”

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 premature deaths in South Africa and 31% of global deaths 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.

This re-accreditation not only highlights the expertise and dedication of the hospital’s team but also serves as a testament to the Group’s mission of building healthier and prosperous communities.