Chest Pain Center

More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. While not all chest pain is cardiac, cardiac chest pain is the most critical and demands immediate treatment. Cardiac disease is still the number one killer of Americans, claiming the lives of close to 700,000 people in the U.S. each year.

The Chest Pain Center at Wayne Memorial Hospital is designed to improve the quality and efficiency of care for patients who may be experiencing a life-threatening heart attack. Anyone who presents with chest pain at the hospital’s Emergency Department—pain from the neck to the umbilicus—receives an EKG (electrocardiogram test) within 10 minutes to begin the process of either confirming or ruling out a serious cardiac issue.

Following stringent accreditation criteria, our Chest Pain Center works diligently with the Emergency Department, EMS crews, cardiology, nursing and Imaging personnel to assure the highest quality of care is delivered safely and expeditiously.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Chest Pain Center at Wayne Memorial reflects that of the hospital itself to provide quality healthcare with compassion, advocacy, respect, excellence and service, to promote wellness in our community and to be pro-active in responding to our community’s needs.

OUR HISTORY

The Chest Pain Center, which is overseen by the hospital’s cardiac catheterization laboratory, the Heart & Vascular Center, grew out of several Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) beginning in 2013, where the community expressed a desire for more cardiology services. In 2016, Wayne Memorial opened the cath lab and in 2022, the hospital evolved services to include a Chest Pain Center. The Center is not a “place,” it’s a program or series of processes that focuses on providing the highest quality of care possible for patients experiencing cardiac chest pain.

OUR STAFF

Medical Director Chest Pain Center Medical Director Heart & Vascular Center

Bradley Serwer, MD, FACP Walid Hassan, MD, MACP, FAHA, FACC, FCCP, FSCAI

In addition to two interventional cardiologists providing 24/7 coverage. the Chest Pain Center and the Heart & Vascular Center is staffed by specially trained registered nurses and radiology technologists. The Lead Cardiovascular Care Coordinator is Holly Reddock, RT (R) (CV), RCIS.

OUR SERVICE AREA

Our service coverage area encompasses approximately 130,000 residents across four counties: Wayne, Pike, Eastern Lackawanna and Southern Susquehanna County in northeastern Pennsylvania. Wayne Memorial also serves part of the Upper Delaware region of New York State.

BE HEART SMART!

A heart attack is a medical emergency. A heart attack usually occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the heart. Without blood, tissue loses oxygen and dies. While the Chest Pain Center staff instructs patients on how to care for their heart after an incident, they also encourage activities and lifestyles that prevent heart events.

Do You Know…

Warning signs

Chest Pain, Pressure, Fullness, or Discomfort. The pain can sometimes be sudden and intense– “like heavy cylindrical blocks on my chest,” said one patient.
Discomfort in other areas of your body. “If something doesn’t feel right, if it feels new or different, pay attention and seek treatment.” – Dr. Serwer
Difficulty breathing and dizziness.
Nausea and cold sweats.

Your risk factors

Age. Men age 45 and older and women age 55 and older are more likely to have a heart attack than are younger men and women.
Tobacco use. .
High blood pressure.
High cholesterol or triglycerides.
Obesity.
Diabetes.
Metabolic syndrome.
Family history of heart attacks.