Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center recognized by American College of Cardiology for excellent care

Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center has been reaccredited by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) as a Chest Pain Center with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) – a medical procedure to open a blocked artery – and Resuscitation, recognizing the hospital’s continued excellence in rapid, evidence-based care for heart attack patients and those requiring emergency resuscitation.

St. Mary’s is the only Minnesota hospital with this prestigious designation.

The ACC’s rigorous reaccreditation process evaluates facilities on key performance metrics, including door-to-balloon times (the time it takes to open a blocked artery using a balloon catheter) under 90 minutes for primary PCI. St. Mary’s demonstrated sustained compliance with national standards, affirming its role as a regional leader in cardiovascular emergencies.

“This reaccreditation reflects the relentless commitment of our regional EMS partners, cardiology, emergency and critical care teams,” said Essentia’s STEMI program specialist, Krysta Kaas. “From the moment a patient arrives with chest pain, every second is optimized, thanks to seamless communication and collaboration with EMS, real-time EKG transmission and 24/7 catheterization lab readiness.”

One of the highlights of the reaccreditation is Essentia’s commitment to community outreach, which includes training over 500 regional EMS staff annually on critical aspects of their work.

The Chest Pain Center designation with Primary PCI and Resuscitation is the ACC’s highest level of recognition for facilities capable of performing emergency angioplasty and stenting while maintaining comprehensive resuscitation services. Fewer than 15% of accredited centers nationwide achieve this dual designation.

“Reaccreditation isn’t a one-time achievement; it’s a commitment to our community,” said Kaas. “Whether it’s a rural Cloquet resident or a visitor in Canal Park, they can trust St. Mary’s to deliver lifesaving cardiac care at 3 a.m. just as effectively as 3 p.m. We’re here when you need us.”

St. Mary’s serves as a resource for complex cardiac cases across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

Patients experiencing chest pain or heart attack symptoms are urged to call 911 immediately. For more information on Essentia’s cardiovascular services, visit essentiahealth.org/heart.