January 26, 2023 – Delray Medical Center has launched a new “Cardiac Concierge” program designed to save lives by quickly identifying and treating patients experiencing chest pain and heart failure symptoms. This program provides more personalized care with enhanced accessibility and convenience through a dedicated cardiac team.
Under the program, a dedicated cardiac liaison meets any patient who comes to the emergency room (ER) complaining of chest pains and heart failure symptoms as soon as they arrive at the hospital. Delray’s experienced team of cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons, specially trained cardiac nurses and other dedicated cardiac practitioners then implements a specialized care plan to expedite the patient’s diagnosis and treatment. The team and dedicated cardiac navigator remains by the patient’s side throughout their hospital stay in order to fast track their care and provide educational resources.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), prompt diagnosis and treatment of heart attack symptoms has been shown to improve survival rates. Research by the AHA found that the longer the time between when heart attack symptoms start and a patient has an artery-clearing procedure known as a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the more damage to the heart muscle and the more significant and damaging the heart attack.
“At Delray Medical Center, we are committed to providing life-saving heart care to our patients,” said Maria Morales Menendez, the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer. “Our new ‘Cardiac Concierge’ program represents a significant enhancement of our ability to quickly identify and treat heart failure patients, and potentially improve their chances of a full recovery.”
“When a heart attack happens, any delay in diagnosis and treatment can be deadly,” said Latosha Wise, Cardiac Navigator at Delray Medical Center. “The ‘Cardiac Concierge’ program is designed to speed up that process while providing our patients with a direct line to their navigator and dedicated cardiac team. The quicker we can identify patients experiencing chest pains or other symptoms of heart failure when they come to the ER, the quicker our team of dedicated cardiac specialists can begin treatment. Our ultimate goal is to save lives.”
Delray Medical Center’s Cardiovascular Program has received numerous awards for the quality of care it provides. The hospital was named a Five Star Recipient for Valve Surgery in 2021, a Five Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure for 19 years in a row (from 2003 to 2022), and a Five Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Attack in 2020, all by Healthgrades, a leading U.S. hospital and physician ratings company. Delray Medical Center also was named a High Performing Hospital for Heart Failure (2019-2020) by U.S. News & World Report.
About Delray Medical Center
Delray Medical Center, part of the Palm Beach Health Network, is a 536-bed acute care hospital, spanning 30 acres, employing over 1,700 employees, 700 physicians, serving southern Palm Beach County for over 40 years. As both a community hospital and state-designated Level I Trauma Center Delray Medical Center offers several specialized services including state-of-the art cardiac and vascular facilities, orthopedics, neurosciences, emergency care, and weight-loss surgery.
Pinecrest Rehabilitation and Outpatient Hospital at Delray Medical Center is the only state designated brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation program in the county by the State of Florida. Delray Medical Center is also home to Fair Oaks Pavilion, a 53-bed adult psychiatry unit. For more information about our services, visit our website at www.delraymedicalctr.com.
