Penn Highlands Healthcare Recognized for Cardiovascular Program Excellence

Three Penn Highlands Healthcare hospitals have been recognized with Corazon Service Excellence Awards for their achievements in cardiovascular program accreditation.

Penn Highlands Mon Valley was recognized for achieving 10 years of accreditation for its cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) program. Penn Highlands Huntingdon earned recognition for five years of accreditation for its cardiac catheterization and PCI program, while Penn Highlands DuBois was recognized for five years of accreditation for its cardiac catheterization and PCI program as well as accreditation for its open-heart surgery program.

The awards highlight Penn Highlands Healthcare’s commitment to providing high-quality cardiovascular services and meeting the rigorous accreditation standards established by Corazon, Inc., a national leader in cardiovascular and specialty program accreditation, in partnership with the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI). Corazon’s accreditation process evaluates programs against established standards, national clinical guidelines and applicable regulatory requirements.

“These recognitions reflect the expertise, dedication and teamwork of our cardiovascular services staff across our hospitals,” said Heather Franci, MBHA, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Service Line Director, Heart Center, Lung Center, Brain and Spine and Oncology Services at Penn Highlands Healthcare. “Providing high-quality cardiac care close to home is essential to the communities we serve. We’re proud of our teams’ commitment to meeting rigorous standards and continually strengthening the care we provide to our patients.”

Percutaneous coronary intervention, also known as coronary angioplasty, is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedure used to open blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. Using a small catheter, physicians restore blood flow to the heart to treat coronary artery disease and certain heart-related emergencies.

These recognitions underscore Penn Highlands Healthcare’s ongoing commitment to maintaining high standards in cardiovascular care and ensuring patients have access to advanced, specialized cardiac services in their communities.

To learn more about Penn Highland Healthcare’s heart catheterization services, visit phhealthcare.org/cathlab.