SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon has been named a top performing hospital for treatment of heart attack patients. The hospital is one of only 323 hospitals nationwide to receive the platinum performance achievement award for 2025 from the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry.
Dr. Michael Kontos, the chair of the registry steering subcommittee, says the receipt of the award indicates that this rural hospital remains committed to providing top-quality, guideline driven care for heart attack patients. He says their success ensures patients are receiving the highest quality cardiovascular care.
To receive the award, Good Samaritan performed at the highest level for specific performance measures in 2023 and 2024.
Dr. Walter Parham, cardiologist and Regional Medical Director of Cardiovascular Services at SSM Health in Southern Illinois says the award is a reflection of their team’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional, evidence-based care to heart attack patients in the community. He says they are proud to be setting a national example for rural hospitals.
