Butler Memorial Hospital among nation’s top performing hospitals for treatment of heart attack patients

American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award recognizes sustained excellence in quality care

BUTLER, PA., Sept. 8, 2026 – Independence Health System’s Butler Memorial Hospital has once again received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2026. Butler Memorial Hospital is one of only 350 hospitals nationwide to earn the distinction and has now achieved the registry's highest level of recognition 10 times since 2016.

The award recognizes Butler Memorial Hospital’s commitment to delivering high-quality care for patients experiencing heart attacks and its success in meeting the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association’s evidence-based clinical guidelines and recommendations.

To receive the Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, Butler Memorial Hospital demonstrated sustained achievement in the registry for two consecutive years, 2024 and 2025, and performed at the highest level for key performance measures. Full participation in the registry engages hospitals in a robust quality improvement process that uses data to strengthen adherence to treatment guidelines and improve outcomes for heart attack patients.

“This continued recognition reflects the commitment and expertise of the teams who care for heart attack patients every day,” said Dr. Richard Begg, MD, FACC, FSCAI, medical director of cardiovascular services at Butler Memorial Hospital. “Successful treatment of a heart attack requires seamless coordination of care from the moment a patient seeks care through diagnosis, intervention and recovery. This award highlights the dedication of our physicians, nurses, EMS partners and support staff who work in tandem to deliver timely, high-quality cardiovascular care for our community.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 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. Recommended treatments include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, providing smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.

“We are proud to present Butler Memorial Hospital with the Platinum Performance Achievement Award in recognition of its national leadership and steadfast commitment to meeting comprehensive performance measures in patient care,” Leslie L. Davis, PhD, ANP-BC, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee. “Butler Memorial Hospital’s achievement reflects its ongoing focus on providing high-quality, guideline-driven care for patients who experience a heart attack and helping ensure they receive exceptional cardiovascular care.”

The Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines. The registry also establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care for patients with coronary artery disease, particularly those at high risk.

Butler Memorial Hospital offers a comprehensive cardiovascular program that includes medical management by noninvasive cardiologists, advanced procedures performed by interventional cardiologists, and robotic-assisted surgeries completed by cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgeons. To learn more about Independence Health System’s award-winning cardiology services, visit Independence.health.

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Independence Health System

Nationally recognized for quality care, Independence Health System comprises Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland Hospitals with a combined bed count of 925. With more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 7,000 employees, the System is the third largest in western Pennsylvania serving a population base of 750,000 in a footprint spanning a multi-county region. 

The System includes tertiary programs rated among America’s best for cardiac care and surgery, earning accolades from a number of prestigious outlets and organizations. Locally owned and locally controlled, Independence Health System offers its patients low-cost, high-quality care across the care spectrum in such specialties as cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, women’s health and obstetrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health and primary care. Its network of outpatient centers sees more than 1.2 million visits annually. The homecare division further supports patients at all stages of life with home health and hospice services. Learn more at www.independence.health.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) 

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is the global leader in transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. As the preeminent source of professional medical education for the entire cardiovascular care team since 1949, ACC credentials cardiovascular professionals in over 140 countries who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. Through its world-renowned family of JACC Journals, NCDR registries, ACC Accreditation Services, global network of Member Sections, CardioSmart patient resources and more, the College is committed to ensuring a world where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes. Learn more at www.ACC.org or follow @ACCinTouch.