American College of Cardiology Honors Essentia Health–Fargo for Exceptional Care
Essentia Health-Fargo 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.
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. Essentia Health-Fargo 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, Ryan Telford. “From the moment a patient arrives with chest pain, we utilize our expertise and processes to optimize care thanks to seamless communication and collaboration with our EMS and ED teams. Our cardiac catheterization lab is ready 24/7.”
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 an ongoing commitment to the communities we serve,” said Telford.
Essentia Health-Fargo, which was also awarded the ACC’s Transcatheter Valve Certification in 2023 — the first hospital to receive this certification for its transcatheter valve aortic replacement (TAVR) program in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota — serves as a resource for complex cardiac cases across the region.
Patients experiencing chest pain or heart attack symptoms are urged to call 911 immediately. For more information on Essentia’s cardiovascular services, including vascular screenings available at Essentia Health-Fargo, visit essentiahealth.org/heart.