South Georgia Medical Center received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2023. SGMC is one of 262 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor and one of only five hospitals in Georgia.
The award recognizes SGMC’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients, reaching an aggressive goal of treatment as outlined by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
SGMC has demonstrated sustained achievement for 2021 and 2022, performing at the highest level and elevating its recognition from the previous designation of Gold to Platinum.
SGMC Chief of Cardiology Doug Luke, MD, explains that this accomplishment recognizes the collective work of many areas within the health system that play a part in the treatment of heart attack patients. This includes providers, nurses, and professionals who work in cardiovascular care, critical intensive care, emergency medical services, the emergency department, cardiac rehab, information services, medical records, and data abstraction.
“Through the hard work of many, we have been able to enhance our procedures and protocols for patients experiencing heart attacks and are thrilled to have reached the highest standards as outlined by the American College of Cardiology,” shared Luke. “We look forward to continuing to provide this outstanding care to the communities we serve.”
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that over 800,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling, and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.
SGMC has the region’s only open-heart program, structural heart and valve center, and cardiac electrophysiology program. To learn more about SGMC’s award-winning heart and vascular programs, visit sgmc.org.