Every year, more than 800,000 people in the United States suffer a heart attack, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an event that occurs approximately every 40 seconds.
A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when blood flow to a portion of the heart muscle is suddenly blocked. Without a steady supply of oxygen-rich blood, heart muscle begins to die, making immediate medical attention critical to limiting damage and improving survival.
For 30 years, South Texas Health System Heart (STHS) Heart, one of the nation’s first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospitals, has provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient cardiovascular care to residents across the Rio Grande Valley, including around-the-clock emergency care for heart attack patients.
In recognition of its commitment to excellence in heart attack care, STHS Heart was recently awarded the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) 2026 Chest Pain – MI Registry™ Platinum Performance Achievement Award, advancing from Silver-level recognition in 2025.
The facility is one of only 350 hospitals nationwide to earn the prestigious distinction.
The Platinum Performance Achievement Award recognizes hospitals that consistently deliver a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and achieve sustained adherence to evidence-based treatment guidelines established by the ACC and American Heart Association.
The honor reflects STHS Heart’s ongoing dedication to improving patient outcomes through timely, high-quality cardiovascular care.
“This prestigious recognition is a testament to the commitment of our entire team to providing exceptional heart attack care when every second matters,” said Brenda Ivory, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Heart. “From the moment a patient arrives at our emergency department through every stage of treatment and recovery, our physicians and staff work together to deliver the highest standard of care. We’re proud to be recognized among the nation's top-performing hospitals and remain dedicated to helping our patients achieve the best possible outcomes.”
To receive the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, STHS Heart has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025) and performed at the highest level for 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.
“We are proud to present STHS Heart the Gold Performance Achievement Award in recognition of its national leadership and steadfast commitment to meeting comprehensive performance measures in patient care,” Leslie L. Davis, PhD, ANP-BC, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee. "STHS Heart’s achievement reflects its ongoing focus on providing high-quality, guideline-driven care for patients who experience a heart attack and helping ensure they receive exceptional cardiovascular care.”
Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.
From emergency heart care and advanced diagnostics to cardiac catheterization, heart surgery, intensive cardiac rehabilitation and education, STHS Heart provides a full spectrum of cardiovascular services for patients across the Rio Grande Valley. To learn more, 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 dedicated 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.
About The American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is the global leader in transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. As the preeminent source of professional medical education for the entire cardiovascular care team since 1949, ACC credentials cardiovascular professionals in over 140 countries who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. Through its world-renowned family of JACC Journals, NCDR registries, ACC Accreditation Services, global network of Member Sections, CardioSmart patient resources and more, the College is committed to ensuring a world where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes. Learn more at www.ACC.org or follow @ACCinTouch.
