A heart attack can strike without warning, turning an ordinary day into a life-threatening emergency.
While some people experience sudden, intense chest pain, others may dismiss more subtle warning signs as indigestion, fatigue or another less serious condition.
An estimated 805,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year, according to the American Heart Association.
Recognizing the symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the risk of serious complications.
"For many heart attack patients, every minute matters," said Federico Azpurua, MD, FACC, a board-certified interventional cardiologist with South Texas Health System (STHS) Clinics. "One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting to see if symptoms improve on their own. Access to specialized cardiac services and experienced medical professionals can make a critical difference in preserving heart function and saving lives."
That commitment to delivering exceptional cardiac care has earned national recognition for STHS.
STHS Heart, STHS Edinburg and STHS McAllen have each received a 2027 Five-Star Rating for Treatment of Heart Attack from Healthgrades, a leading online resource for information about physicians and hospitals.
The distinction recognizes hospitals that achieve superior patient outcomes for specific procedures and conditions.
"When someone arrives at our hospital experiencing a heart attack, they're often facing one of the most frightening moments of their life," said Brenda Ivory, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Heart. "This recognition reflects the expertise, compassion and teamwork our physicians, nurses and staff bring to every patient encounter, helping ensure patients receive the timely, high-quality care they need when it matters most."
The Five-Star Rating for Treatment of Heart Attack adds to STHS' growing list of national accolades. STHS Heart also earned Healthgrades' 2027 Specialty Excellence Awards for Cardiac Care, Coronary Intervention and Cardiology Services.
Notably, STHS Heart is the only facility in the Valley to receive all three distinctions in 2027, an honor shared by just nine hospitals across Texas.
Additionally, STHS Heart earned a Five-Star Rating for Coronary Interventional Procedures for the second consecutive year and was named among the nation's Top 5% for those procedures.
As part of its annual analysis, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide across more than 30 common conditions and procedures to identify top-performing facilities.
The impact of receiving care at a highly rated hospital can be substantial. According to Healthgrades, if all hospitals had performed at the level of Five-Star recipients during the 2023-2025 study period, an estimated 227,229 lives could have been saved and 158,138 complications could have been avoided.*
“Finding a hospital that excels in a given procedure or treatment can transform a patient’s health trajectory,” said Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor, Healthgrades. “We’re proud to recognize STHS for its top-tier performance in treating heart attacks and commend its team for delivering exceptional patient outcomes when it matters most.”
To learn more about the award-winning cardiovascular services available through STHS, including treatment of heart attack, visit southtexashealthsystem.com.
To learn more about how Healthgrades determines the top hospitals for specialty care, view the complete 2027 Specialty Excellence Awards and Ratings Methodology.
*Statistical averages based on Healthgrades’ analysis of MedPAR data for years 2023 through 2025 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.
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.
