Sara Harvey RN, Stephanie Cormier APRN, Dr. Omid Zad, Jorge Negrin, Bertaletta Negrin, Joelle Belcher, ECMO Specialist, Victoria Thornton ECMO Specialist, Heather O'Connell RN (photo courtesy: AdventHealth)
When every second counts, patients across Tampa Bay can trust AdventHealth for faster, safer treatment of chest pain and heart attacks—care that’s nationally recognized for saving lives and reducing complications.
Four AdventHealth West Florida Division hospitals, AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Tampa, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, have recently earned the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain–MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2025, a distinction given to fewer than 15% of hospitals nationwide. This top honor means patients can feel confident knowing their heart care is backed by award-winning expertise and proven results.
That recognition reflects real stories like that of Joseph Negrin, who was rushed to AdventHealth Tampa last Christmas after suffering sudden cardiac arrest.
Within moments, the cardiac team restored his heartbeat and provided advanced treatment that saved his life.
“First, I thank God that I am alive. Next, I thank the doctors. They treated me very well. They were very attentive to me,” Negrin said.
“I don’t have any complaints. We are so grateful to the medical team and the doctors that he is still alive. I don’t even have the words to thank them,” said Negrin’s wife, Bertalina Figueras Castro.
Dr. Charles Lambert, medical director of the AdventHealth West Florida Division’s Heart, Lung, and Vascular Institute, said Negrin’s recovery is just one example of the expert, coordinated heart care AdventHealth delivers every day.
“This award is a testament to our commitment to provide the highest level of care and improve patient outcomes,” Dr. Lambert said. “Our expert team consistently meets or exceeds the highest standards, following proven protocols to save lives and minimize complications.”
The American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award recognizes AdventHealth Carrollwood, Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills hospitals’ commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies they have reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.
“It is an honor to award these facilities with the Platinum Performance Award. The receipt of this award indicates that these hospitals remain committed to providing top quality, guideline-driven care for heart attack patients. Their success ensures patients are receiving the highest quality cardiovascular care,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, and cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “
In addition, AdventHealth Sebring and AdventHealth Heart of Florida were honored with a Silver Performance Award and are two of only 79 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.
According to the most recent data available from the Florida Department of Health, the average rate of hospitalizations for heart attacks in Florida in 2024 was about 142 per 100,000 hospitalizations. 1 While the average rate of hospitalizations for heart attacks in Hillsborough County came in close to the statewide average at 143 per 100,000 hospitalizations, the rate was much higher in Pasco County at 177.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that over 800,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year.2 A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Heart attack patients should seek emergency care immediately. Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.
Learn more about the AdventHealth Lung, Heart and Vascular Institute, providing care close to home in Tampa Bay and beyond.
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is the global leader in transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. As the preeminent source of professional medical education for the entire cardiovascular care team since 1949, ACC credentials cardiovascular professionals in over 140 countries who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. Through its world-renowned family of JACC Journals, NCDR registries, ACC Accreditation Services, global network of Member Sections, CardioSmart patient resources and more, the College is committed to ensuring a world where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes. Learn more at www.ACC.org or follow @ACCinTouch.