ARLINGTON, Texas — With heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, Texas Health Resources is addressing the problem with quality care and science-based guidelines for treating heart attack patients. This focus has once again earned Texas Health facilities the American College of Cardiology’s National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) Chest Pain – MI Registry Performance Achievement Award.

Texas Health hospitals accounted for nine of the 400 facilities recognized across the country this year.

The award annually recognizes hospitals that provide a high standard of care for patients who have had a heart attack, which is when a clot in a coronary artery blocks blood flow to the heart.

“This award demonstrates our continued commitment to addressing the needs of cardiac patients and partnering with North Texans for a lifetime of health and well-being,” said Kirk King, Texas Health’s Hospital Channel chief operating officer. “Whether it’s a chronic cardiac condition or an emergency heart procedure, our motivation is solely driven by the desire to get patients back to enjoying life.”

The award also confirms that facilities have attained an impressive goal of treating patients as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations. These guidelines include giving aspirin to heart attack patients upon arrival and discharge in the ER, restoring blood flow to a blocked artery in a timely manner, providing counseling on smoking cessation and offering cardiac rehabilitation.

According to the latest information published by the American Heart Association, more than 382,000 Americans died of heart disease in 2020. Hitting closer to home, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that more than 50,500 Texans lost their battle against heart disease in 2021.

“When someone passes away after ignoring the signs and symptoms of heart disease, that’s one too many,” said Sunita Koshy-Nesbitt, M.D., M.B.A., Hospital Channel chief quality officer and a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist. “We’re committed to providing North Texans with necessary resources, along with the quality cardiac care they need and deserve.”

Texas Health hospitals accounted for nine of the 400 facilities recognized across the country this year (with Platinum serving as the highest level*):

Platinum Performance Achievement Award recipients (only 262 hospitals in the nation honored)

• Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance
• Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
• Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford
• Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth
• Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital Arlington
• Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
• Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton
• Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano

Silver Performance Achievement Award recipient (only 82 hospitals in the nation honored)

• Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South

A full list of recipients will be in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” issue. 

Follow this link to learn more about the heart health and wellness programs offered at Texas Health facilities.

* The performance award has three levels, with Platinum being the highest form of recognition for adhering to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients:

• Platinum: two consecutive years (2021 and 2022) performing at the highest level of standards for specific performance measures
• Gold: two consecutive years (2021 and 2022) performing at the top level of standards for specific performance measures
• Silver: four consecutive quarters (during 2022) performing with distinction for specific performance measures