News

Summerlin Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® and the American Heart Association’s^® Heart-Check mark for Advanced Comprehensive Heart Attack Certification (CHAC). Summerlin Hospital underwent a rigorous, two-day onsite review on October 7 and 8, 2025. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards, including:

• Providing onsite coverage for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and cardiac surgical services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• A multidisciplinary team approach, offering a full range of advanced hemodynamic support for the treatment of the most complex and critically ill patients, including those with cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest.
• Meeting nine standardized performance measures such as ECG within 10 minutes of arrival, PPCI ≤ 90 minutes, and EMS FMC to PCI ≤ 90 minutes.
• Collecting performance measure data four months prior to the initial certification review visit.

Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team for achieving this long-term goal and for continuing to provide outstanding heart care to our community. We are among the first 12 hospitals in the United States to earn this certification,” said Rob Freymuller, CEO of Summerlin Hospital. “The clock begins either in the community with our EMS partners or at our emergency department triage desk and carries through to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and surgery suites, then on to our inpatient nursing units and finally, referrals to our outpatient cardiac rehabilitation unit. Our cardiac team includes hundreds of physicians and clinical healthcare providers, including registered nurses, CNAs, physical and occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, dietitians and case management working seamlessly to provide high-quality treatment for the best possible outcome.”

Cardiovascular disease, which includes all types of heart disease and stroke, remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Since Summerlin Hospital’s opening in 1997, heart care has been a top priority. In addition to comprehensive heart attack care, Summerlin Hospital offers cardiovascular thoracic surgeries, heart valve surgery, structural heart procedures, electrophysiology procedures to fix arrhythmias and implant devices, along with outpatient cardiac rehabilitation services.

“Advanced CHAC certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, Executive Vice President of Accreditation and Certification Operations and Chief Nursing Officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend Summerlin Hospital for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”

“We congratulate Summerlin Hospital for this outstanding achievement,” said Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer, the American Heart Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for cardiac patients.”