14th Consecutive Year: SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale Ranks Among Nation’s Best for Heart Attack Treatment
SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale has been recognized with the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2025, marking the hospital’s 14th consecutive year earning the prestigious distinction.
SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale is one of only 323 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor. To qualify, hospitals must demonstrate sustained achievement in the registry for two consecutive years and perform at the highest level for specific quality measures in the treatment of heart attack patients.
The Chest Pain – MI Registry empowers health care teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, evidence-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided to patients with coronary artery disease.
“This is one of the highest honors a cardiovascular program can receive,” said Rizwan Khan, MD, interventional cardiologist at SIH Prairie Heart Institute and medical director of the STEMI program. “A STEMI is the most severe type of heart attack. It means a major artery is completely blocked. In those moments, heart muscle is dying. The Platinum award measures how quickly we respond, how fast we open that artery and whether every patient receives the right medication from the time they arrive through discharge.”
What makes this especially meaningful, adds Dr. Khan is that it reflects fastidious teamwork through SIH’s STAT Heart program.
“EMS alerts us before the patient even reaches the hospital. The emergency department is ready. The cath lab team is mobilized. Whether it’s midday or 1 a.m., we are here within minutes. Fourteen consecutive years speaks to a culture of precision and accountability.”
“This recognition reflects who we are as an organization,” said Craig Jesiolowski, administrator of SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. “For 14 consecutive years, our teams have delivered nationally recognized heart attack care right here in Southern Illinois. Patients do not have to leave this region to receive fast, guideline-driven treatment during one of the most critical moments of their lives. That consistency, year after year, is a direct result of disciplined teamwork, continuous quality improvement and an unwavering commitment to our community.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 800,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. Treatment guidelines include rapid restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, appropriate medications upon arrival and discharge, smoking cessation counseling and referral to cardiac rehabilitation.
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. Since 1949, ACC has served as the preeminent source of professional medical education for the cardiovascular care team. The College credentials cardiovascular professionals in more than 140 countries and leads in the development of health policy, standards and clinical guidelines. Through its family of JACC journals, NCDR registries, accreditation services and patient education resources, the ACC is committed to advancing cardiovascular science and improving patient outcomes. Learn more at www.ACC.org.