AnMed Health has earned distinction as one of six accredited Regional Clinical Care Centers in the United States from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association for specialized treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare form of high blood pressure. The health system is the first in South Carolina to receive the accreditation.

To be accredited as a Regional Clinical Program, AnMed Health demonstrated a commitment to providing expert-level care, proficiently evaluating pulmonary hypertension patients based on published evidence-based guidelines, and providing expert treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. “We have worked diligently for almost three years to receive this recognition,” said Clay Hall, pulmonary disease navigator.

Tina Lisenby was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension in 2009. "I was misdiagnosed for several years, but the treatment I received at AnMed Health has been great," Lisenby said.

“The accreditation will allow us to bring in more resources to take care of patients to improve their quality of life by diagnosis and management of this progressive disease," said Dr. Abhijit Raval, director of interventional pulmonary and pulmonary vascular disease.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension occurs in the pulmonary arteries which flow from the heart throughout the lungs. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain. It can result from the arteries in the lungs becoming damaged, narrowed, or stiffened, forcing the right side of the heart to pump extra hard and leading to right heart failure and death.

While there is no cure, pulmonary arterial hypertension is treatable with medication, and some sufferers undergo a lung transplant. It affects children and adults of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.