STHS Heart Receives Prestigious Chest Pain Performance Award For Its Treatment Of Patients Experiencing A Heart Attack

Awarded by the American College of Cardiology, the 2025 Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry Silver Performance Achievement Award recognizes STHS Heart’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients

Every year, about 805,000 people in the United States suffer a heart attack, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A heart attack, also referred to as a myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is suddenly blocked. Without a sufficient supply of oxygen-rich blood, the heart begins to die.

Seeking immediate medical attention is crucial to minimize damage to the heart and improve the chances of survival.

For nearly 30 years, South Texas Health System Heart – one of the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospitals built in the U.S. – has provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient cardiovascular care for the people of the Rio Grande Valley, including a 24-hour emergency center for medical emergencies including heart attacks.

Recently, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR®) recognized STHS Heart with its 2025 Chest Pain – MI Registry™ Silver Performance Achievement Award, a distinction that recognizes the facility’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients.

“It’s an honor to recognize STHS Heart for the facility’s valuable national leadership and dedication to meeting comprehensive performance measures in patient care,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, a cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center who serves as chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee. “Receipt of this award indicates that STHS Heart is committed to providing top quality, guideline-driven care for heart attack patients. The facility’s success ensures patients are receiving the highest quality cardiovascular care.”

One of only 425 hospitals nationwide to receive a Chest Pain – MI Registry Performance Achievement Award, STHS Heart was recognized for demonstrating sustained, top-level performance in quality of care and adherence to clinical guidelines and recommendations as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association.

To receive the award, STHS Heart has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain  ̶   MI Registry for four consecutive quarters during 2023 and performed with distinction in specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry engages hospitals in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients.

“STHS Heart strives to deliver the highest level of quality, compassionate care to each patient that comes through our doors. This achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our clinical and quality staff to delivering evidence-based treatment that helps save precious lives,” says Brenda Ivory, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Heart. “As one of the select facilities nationwide to earn this honor, STHS Heart is strengthening its reputation as a leading provider of cardiovascular care in the four-county region and a center of cardiovascular excellence.”

With faster door-to-treatment times and strict guideline adherence, patients can expect better recovery rates and reduced complications from a heart attack. Beyond that, residents can take comfort knowing STHS Heart is recognized for exceeding national standards in cardiac care.

“Our mission has always been to uphold the highest standard for close-to-home cardiovascular care for our patients,” says Ivory. “Beyond providing comprehensive, lifesaving medical attention to patients experiencing a heart attack, STHS Heart is proud to offer diagnostic services aimed at preventing heart events like a heart attack or stroke from occurring.”

The Chest Pain – MI Registry is a leading quality-improvement initiative providing hospitals with risk-adjusted performance data and benchmarked metrics to support continuous clinical improvements.

STHS Heart provides diagnosis and treatment, emergency heart care, cardiac catheterization, heart surgery, intensive cardiac rehabilitation and education. For more information on the facility’s comprehensive services, visit STHSHeart.com.

About South Texas Health System

South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of South Texas Health System. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.