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Quick Facts:
Northwest AR,
Fort Smith
By Mercy's Mardi Taylor
Key points:
* Mercy Hospital Fort Smith and Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas earned the American College of Cardiology's highest honor, the 2026 NCDR Chest Pain-MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, placing them among an elite group of hospitals nationwide recognized for excellence in heart attack care.
* The Platinum designation recognizes hospitals that consistently meet rigorous standards over four consecutive quarters, including timely treatment, heart function evaluation, cardiac rehabilitation referrals, discharge planning and adherence to proven clinical guidelines.
* Mercy leaders credit the achievement to the collaboration of physicians, nurses and caregivers who work together to provide rapid, high-quality care when every minute matters, helping patients recover faster and receive nationally recognized cardiovascular care close to home.
FORT SMITH and ROGERS, Ark. – Mercy hospitals in Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas have been recognized among the nation's top-performing hospitals for heart attack care, earning the American College of Cardiology's NCDR Chest Pain-MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2026.
The award is the highest level awarded by the ACC and recognizes hospitals that consistently deliver high-quality, guideline-driven care to patients experiencing heart attacks and demonstrates Mercy's commitment to improving outcomes for cardiovascular patients across Arkansas. The award places Mercy Hospital Fort Smith and Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas among a select group of hospitals nationwide recognized for excellence in cardiovascular care.
To achieve Platinum Performance status, hospitals must demonstrate sustained excellence in the Chest Pain-MI Registry over four consecutive quarters and meet rigorous performance standards in key areas of heart attack care. These measures include timely treatment, evaluation of heart function, referral to cardiac rehabilitation, discharge planning and adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 800,000 people in the United States experience a heart attack each year. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical to improving survival and reducing long-term complications.
“This award recognizes facilities that deliver superior, evidence-based care for heart attack patients by strictly following expert clinical guidelines,” said Lane DeBruce, Mercy Fort Smith’s chest pain coordinator and cardiology educator. “It reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses and caregivers who work together to ensure patients receive timely, high-quality treatment when every minute matters.”
“This recognition highlights the strength of our cardiovascular program and the teamwork behind every patient encounter,” added Lindsey Abney, Mercy Northwest Arkansas chest pain center coordinator. “We are proud of the clinicians and caregivers whose expertise and attention to detail help ensure patients receive nationally recognized cardiac care close to home. Our teams work every day to make certain patients receive the right treatment at the right time, helping them recover faster and return to the people and activities that matter most.”
The Chest Pain-MI Registry, administered by the American College of Cardiology, helps hospitals track and improve the quality of care provided to patients with heart attacks and other acute coronary conditions. The registry promotes adherence to the latest evidence-based guidelines and serves as a national benchmark for measuring performance, safety and patient outcomes.
The announcement will be featured in the September issue of Cardiology Magazine and the ACC insert in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” guidebook.
