After 1 year of adhering to standards set by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), 100% patients who underwent coronary intervention at Vinmec were discharged safely after two days.
By simultaneously receiving 2 ACC certifications on coronary intervention and heart failure management, Vinmec is one step closer to its goal of becoming a Center of Excellence (COE) for Cardiology in Vietnam.
Efficiency breakthrough
Mr. Duong Chinh Thuc, a 79-year-old resident of Cau Giay, Hanoi, had reportedly been experiencing chest pains following a coronary intervention procedure in 2019. Analyzing the patient’s CT scan, Vinmec Times City Hospital’s doctors discovered that the patient had an 80% coronary stenosis rate. According to ACC standards, in cases like these, interventions are not necessary. Upon discovering signs of myocardial ischemia in the echocardiogram, doctors would prescribe intervention for the patient.
As per ACC – the world’s foremost comprehensive and rigorous standard for cardiovascular treatment, the goal of doctors is not solely curing the disease, but also gauging the degree to which the patient’s quality of life is enhanced post-treatment. Prior to any medical intervention, doctors are required to conduct an interview with patients using the ACC-recommended “Angina” questionnaire. This is done to evaluate the extent to which coronary artery disease is limiting the patient’s normal activities.
“After three decades of grappling with coronary artery disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and prediabetes, I was a little apprehensive. However, when Vinmec doctors gave me a convincing prescription, I finally had peace of mind regarding the operation”, shared Thuc.
According to Dr. Do Xuan Chien from Vinmec Times City Cardiovascular Center, doctors perform a risk assessment prior to the intervention in order to mitigate any potential issues during and after the procedure. For a safe and effective intervention procedure, multi-specialty coordination is crucial. This includes doctors specialized in intervention, emergency resuscitation, anesthesiology, cardiology, and other specialties.
“All processes are implemented based on a unified professional standard, ensuring optimal handling of all situations that may arise. Following the procedure, the patient is closely monitored and provided with guidance on nutrition, rehabilitation, and health education. Thanks to this, patients are able to make a speedy recovery and can be safely discharged from the hospital ahead of schedule”, shared Dr. Do Xuan Chien.
Mr. Thuc was discharged from Vinmec after only two days, thanks to the hospital’s American-standard treatment and care process. This is a significant improvement from the typical four-day hospital stay. Furthermore, the patient was able to regain his ability to engage in physical activity that was previously limited.
After nearly one year, Vinmec’s adoption of the ACC standard has yielded impressive results, with statistics showing that all patients who underwent coronary intervention, including those with acute myocardial infarction, were safely discharged after just two days. Additionally, incidence of contrast-induced renal failure following intervention was reduced to approximately 0% from 17%.
Building a Center of Excellence (COE) for Cardiology
Vinmec’s ACC-standard coronary intervention program aims to provide patients with continuous and optimal care at every stage, including after they have been discharged from the hospital. The program adheres to the principles of “value-based care,” which asserts that the quality of treatment and service should be proportional to its cost.
The effectiveness of patient care is measured through a comprehensive process that involves an interventional treatment regimen rooted in sound medical evidence, as well as disease management that consists of three distinct phases: before, during, and after discharge. According to ACC, these performance indicators have been evaluated and deemed comparable to those of 50% of hospitals in the United States. In addition, the hospital records feedback on patient satisfaction through the treatment effectiveness and service experience form.
Prof. Bui Duc Phu, Director of the Cardiovascular Center at Vinmec Healthcare System, stated that emergency intervention can significantly reduce the time it takes to treat patients with acute myocardial infarction. By activating emergency procedures as soon as the patient arrives, the time between arrival and treatment can be shortened. In a bid to improve patient outcomes, emergency care services have implemented a new protocol aimed at reducing the time between initial treatment and balloon angioplasty to less than 60 minutes. This is crucial to preventing necrosis and enhancing heart muscle.
For planned intervention, precision is key. By prescribing the correct treatment and the right time using stress tests and accurate means of exploration such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and fractional coronary flow reserve (FFR), patients can experience tangible and long-lasting benefits. Additionally, this approach can help prevent unnecessary intervention and promote more efficient use of medical resources. This is only one among 34 of ACC’s rigorous assessment criteria for which Vinmec was being evaluated on.
“ACC standard has undergone several refinements over the years, drawing from the practices of leading cardiovascular centers. Thus, the standard is highly regarded in the United States and globally” – shared Prof. Bui Duc Phu.
Vinmec is set to expand its cardiovascular intervention activities in the near future, in accordance with the standards set by ACC. This will include the promotion of percutaneous aortic valve replacement (TAVI), aortic stent graft, electrophysiology, and catheter ablation.
Prior to receiving ACC certification for coronary intervention, Vinmec was the first healthcare system in Asia to receive ACC certification for heart failure management. By continuously meeting the world’s most rigorous standards, Vinmec not only guarantees top-notch treatment for patients, but also brings the institution closer to its goal of becoming Vietnam’s Center of Excellence (COE) for Cardiology.
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Established in 1949, the American College of Caridiology (ACC) is a non-profit medical organization, with a membership of over 56,000 individuals, comprising medical professionals and cardiovascular care workers from the United States and across the globe. ACC is the publisher of The American College of Cardiology journal, which is recognized as one of the world’s foremost cardiovascular journals.
ACC has established itself as a leading accreditation and certification authority for cardiovascular centers that adhere to rigorous criteria in the care and treatment of heart failure and coronary artery disease. As of now, ACC has granted certifications to 98 hospitals globally for coronary intervention, mostly in the United States.
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