Mercy Hospital Earns Dual ACC Accreditations for Superior Cardiac Care

DURANGO, CO (November 24, 2025) − Mercy Hospital has achieved two prestigious accreditations from the American College of Cardiology (ACC): Chest Pain Center with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI. This significant dual recognition underscores Mercy Hospital's unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality, most advanced cardiac care to the Durango community and surrounding region.

This accomplishment follows a rigorous nine-month evaluation process and onsite review by the ACC, signifying that Mercy Hospital meets stringent national standards for rapidly and effectively treating patients experiencing heart attacks (STEMI) and other critical cardiac conditions.

The Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation highlights the hospital's expertise in diagnosing and treating acute coronary syndromes, ensuring rapid and appropriate care for patients presenting with chest pain.

Concurrently, the Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI specifically acknowledges the proficiency and quality of its cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention procedures. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), commonly known as coronary angioplasty, is a non-surgical procedure crucial for opening narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. It uses a balloon to relieve symptoms of heart disease or reduce heart damage during or after a heart attack.

"This dual accreditation is a testament to the extraordinary dedication and collaborative spirit of every single member of the Mercy Hospital team," said Josh Neff, President, Mercy Hospital. "It underscores our mission to deliver life-saving, high-quality cardiac care right here in our community. These hard-won accreditations reinforce our position as the leading provider of comprehensive and advanced cardiac services in the Four Corners region, ensuring patients receive timely and expert care when it matters most."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 730,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. Hospitals like Mercy that earn these ACC accreditations demonstrate exceptional competency in treating cardiac patients.

For Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI, this includes maintaining 24/7 primary PCI availability and adhering to a "No Diversion Policy" for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

For Cardiac Cath Lab, it means standardized assessment processes, fully coordinated care in the procedure room (including sedation, infection control, and radiation safety), and masterful transfer to cath recovery units for enhanced monitoring and patient communication.

"Mercy Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to providing the Durango community with excellent heart care," said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. "ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Mercy Hospital with both Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI."

Achieving these accreditations requires hospitals to take part in a multi-faceted clinical process involving gap analysis, examination of care variances, action plan development, rigorous onsite review, and ongoing monitoring for sustained success. This leads to improved methods, streamlined processes, and the implementation of best practices in cardiac patient care.

Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized dedicated teams of medical and administrative staff to support these efforts, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and enhanced education.

The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance, focusing on all aspects of cardiac care, from emergency treatment of heart attacks to advanced cath lab procedures.