Phelps Health Earns Primary Heart Attack Center Certification

Phelps Health has been awarded The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark for Primary Heart Attack Center (PHAC) Certification—a distinction recognizing the Hospital’s commitment to delivering high-quality, lifesaving cardiac care. 

Phelps Health underwent a rigorous review by The Joint Commission to earn this certification, equivalent to Missouri’s Level II STEMI certification. During the evaluation, an expert reviewer assessed the Hospital’s compliance with national standards for heart attack care, including emergency response, catheterization laboratory services and inpatient treatment. 

Hospitals with PHAC Certification should already offer 24/7 coverage for patients with severe heart attacks, which Phelps Health began providing in February 2024. Only seven hospitals in Missouri, including Phelps Health, have the PHAC certification. 

“Achieving this certification reflects Phelps Health’s dedication to delivering exceptional, evidence-based cardiac care,” said Phelps Health President and CEO Jason Shenefield. “Our team works tirelessly to provide rapid, effective treatment for heart attack patients, ensuring they receive the best possible outcomes.”

To prepare for certification, Phelps Health formed multidisciplinary teams across the organization—including the Emergency Department, cardiology, inpatient units, catheterization lab and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)—to refine and streamline heart attack care. These teams focused on reducing treatment delays and improving communication between departments. This faster, coordinated approach helps preserve heart muscle and save lives by minimizing the time between the onset of symptoms and treatment.

"This certification demonstrates the hard work and dedication of our entire team in providing high-quality, accessible cardiac care," said Phelps Health Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer Keri Brookshire-Heavin. "By meeting these rigorous standards, we ensure that heart attack patients in our community receive the best possible care when they need it most."

Joint Commission standards are developed with input from healthcare experts, providers and patients. As part of the certification process, a reviewer conducted onsite observations and interviews to assess Phelps Health’s ability to provide consistent, high-quality care.

“This certification is awarded to healthcare organizations committed to excellence in patient safety and continuous quality improvement,” said Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer at The Joint Commission. “We commend Phelps Health for reducing variations in clinical processes and strengthening its cardiac care program to enhance patient outcomes.”

The American Heart Association also praised Phelps Health for its achievement.

“We congratulate Phelps Health on earning this prestigious certification,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “This designation reflects the Hospital’s commitment to delivering high-quality care to heart attack patients when they need it most.”

For more information about The Joint Commission’s certification programs, visit JointCommission.org.