Methodist University Hospital named a top spot for cardiovascular care third year in a row

For the third consecutive year, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare’s University Hospital has been recognized as one of the top hospitals in the U.S. for care of patients with cardiovascular emergencies.

The American College of Cardiology selects a number of hospitals yearly for the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Chest Pain ― MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2023. The award is granted to hospitals who have shown excellence in caring for patients experiencing chest pain.

In the Mid-South, like much of the U.S., complications arising from heart disease is the number one cause of death, ahead of cancer and complications from COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This prestigious award affirms Methodist University Hospital as a leader in the medical community, upholding the highest standards of excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of acute chest pain,” said Oluwaseun Akinseye, the director of cardiac services at the hospital.

In order to qualify for the award, hospitals must meet strict timeliness benchmarks that start from the moment a patient is picked up by first responders to the moment they are discharged from the hospital.

Those benchmarks are based on how quickly the hospital provides a number of services for cardiac emergencies like cardiograms, or administering proper medications.

A STEMI patient, for example, is a patient suffering from the most severe category of heart attack. And those patients must have their artery blockage cleared in an average of 90 minutes or less in order for the hospital to qualify for the honor Methodist University has received.

“This honor is only possible through cohesive teamwork between EMS, our emergency room staff and our inpatient chest pain experts,” said Rachel Powers, a spokesperson for MLH.