Methodist Southlake accredited as Primary Heart Attack Center

SOUTHLAKE – Methodist Southlake Medical Center has earned a Gold Seal of Approval accreditation from The Joint Commission as a Primary Heart Attack Center (PHAC), demonstrating its commitment to providing safe and quality patient care and continuous compliance with the national accrediting organization's rigorous performance standards.

"Achieving this certification just under a year and a half of starting our heart attack program validates the commitment and dedication of the entire hospital for this community," said hospital President Benson Chacko, FACHE. "This is another step in our pursuit to become the trusted provider of choice in our community."

The program underwent a demanding onsite review in May 2025, when a representative from The Joint Commission assessed the hospital’s compliance with national standards for heart attack care, including emergency response, cardiac catheterization laboratory services and inpatient treatment. Methodist Southlake has provided 24/7 coverage for patients with severe heart attacks since February 2024, a must for this accreditation.

"This certification reflects our team’s commitment to delivering rapid, evidence-based, high-quality care," said Anas Alomar, MD, cardiologist on the medical staff. "For our community, it offers peace of mind knowing that expert, lifesaving treatment is available close to home when every second counts."

To prepare for certification, Methodist Southlake formed multidisciplinary teams to refine and streamline heart attack care across several units. 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.

The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help healthcare organizations measure, assess and improve performance.

"We commend Methodist Southlake Medical Center for its commitment to advance safety, quality, equity and compassion for all patients," said Joint Commission Chief Nursing Officer Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, the nonprofit's executive vice president of accreditation and certification operations.