What is Methodist's Chest Pain Center?
- It's an observation and treatment unit open 24 hours daily in the emergency department.
- Patients are seen in triage first, then taken to the acute area of the emergency department where it can be quickly determined if the patient actually is having a heart attack. If the patient does not have evidence of a heart attack, the patient can be placed in the Chest Pain Center for extended observation to look for more subtle evidence of heart disease.
- The center is a group of rooms in a quiet section of the emergency department.
- It's where blood tests, EKG's and possible stress tests are ordered and where pain is monitored.
- It's available to individuals in need of immediate attention.
- The center helps get acute patients into the hospital system more quickly.
- It reduces unnecessary hospital admissions.
- The Chest Pain Center serves Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Roane and Scott counties.