Southern Regional Medical Center earns American Heart Association NSTEMI Silver recognition and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll

Hospital recognized for delivering high-quality, evidence-based heart attack care

RIVERDALE, Ga., (July 1, 2026) - Southern Regional Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare Foundation, has earned the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines® - Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Silver recognition for its commitment to delivering timely, evidence-based care for patients experiencing non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), a serious type of heart attack.

The hospital also received the American Heart Association's Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition for providing evidence-based care that improves outcomes for heart attack patients living with Type 2 diabetes.

Each year, more than 1.2 million people in the United States are hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to the American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. About 70% of ACS cases are classified as NSTEMI, which occurs when a coronary artery is partially blocked, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle and requiring timely diagnosis and treatment.

"For patients experiencing an NSTEMI heart attack, following the American Heart Association's guidelines is essential," said Abhinav Goyal, M.D., MHS, FACC, FAHA, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Coronary Artery Disease System of Care Advisory Group. "These evidence-based recommendations support high-quality in-hospital care and appropriate cardiac rehabilitation after discharge."

Each year, hospitals earn NSTEMI recognition by demonstrating a sustained commitment to treating patients according to the most current, evidence-based guidelines for NSTEMI care, as outlined by the American Heart Association.

"Providing high-quality cardiovascular care requires a coordinated team dedicated to delivering evidence-based treatment at every stage of a patient's journey," said Ela Lena, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Regional Medical Center. "These recognitions reflect the commitment of our physicians, nurses and clinical staff to ensuring every patient receives timely, guideline-directed care that leads to better outcomes."

Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association's premier hospital-based quality improvement initiative. Participating hospitals use the program to ensure patients receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatment while continuously measuring performance and improving outcomes.

About Southern Regional Medical Center: Southern Regional Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)3, is an accredited 331-bed acute care hospital located in Riverdale, Georgia, offers key services to the community including heart care, emergency services, labor and delivery, surgical services and more. For more information visit www.southernregional.org