Harlingen Medical Center Receives Top National Recognition

Updated: August 9, 2013

Harlingen Medical Center cardiovascular surgeons were honored with a 3-Star Rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). The prestigious honor and national recognition was for the highest quality for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgeries and the statistically better results than the national mean.

Mayor of Harlingen, Chris Boswell, and Deborah Meeks, Chief Nursing Officer.

Brenda Ivory, Chief Executive Officer of the Harlingen Medical Center said, “The 3-Star Rating is the highest category of quality achieved under the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) quality-rating system. This prestigious, top-rating is an honor for our hospital.

It designates that the coronary by-pass surgeries results are statistically better here at Harlingen Medical Center and places them among the top heart hospitals in the nation.”

To properly recognize the remarkable achievement, the hospital arranged a lavish public celebration of the event in the Main Lobby. Hospital administration staff, nurses, patients, and doctors from nearby hospitals, and invited guests joined the doctors for the well-deserved recognition.

The program began as Deborah Meeks, HMC Chief Nursing Officer, welcomed the guests and identified the 7 cardiologists and 2 cardiovascular surgeons who comprise the award-winning cardiac surgery team doctors, whose work was now nationally recognized.

Officers of the HMC Cardiovascular Care Center: (l to r) J. Joel Garza, MD,FACC, Cardiologist; Deborah Meeks, HMC Chief Nursing Officer; Daniel Martinez, MD, FACC, Cardiovascular Department Head; Cecil Simmon, MD, Cardiologist. Photo: Bill Keltner/LFN.

Meeks next introduced the guest of honor, Chris Boswell, Mayor of the City of Harlingen. This man came with a mission–to proclaim a special day in honor of the Hospital . He began his remarks by saying, “This is the best part of the job of being Mayor–I get to participate in happy and proud moments like this. “ He continued: “On behalf of the city of Harlingen, I declare July 10, 2013, HARLINGEN MEDICAL CENTER DAY in this city to the delight of the guests.”

The Mayor promptly presented an attractive plaque and the ‘Keys to the City’ to Doctor Daniel Martinez, the head of the HMC Cardiovascular Department. Doctor Martinez graciously accepted the attractive plaque and expressed appreciation on behalf of his team and the hospital for this honor bestowed by the city.

The noted surgeon attributed this high-status designation to a total team effort by these several cardiac surgeons, physicians and their support staff “who all work closely together to deliver the best cardiovascular care and quality outcomes to our patients, ” Doctor Martinez said, adding: “I am only a member of this great award-winning surgical team of interventional cardiologists.”

Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell presents declaration plaque and city keys to Doctor Daniel Martinez, Head of Cardiovascular Care Program.

The award-winning Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery team at HMC consists of Cardiogists: Hugo G. Blake, MD, FACC; Michael D. Evans, MD, FACC; Eduardo D. Flores, MD, FACC; J. Joel Garza, MD, FACC, FSCAI; Shereef Hilmy, MD, FACC, FSCAI; Frank Mazzola, MD, FACC; and David E. Yardley, MD, FACC.

This team of Cardiologists joins forces with the 2 Cardiovascular Surgeons to assure excellence in cardiac care. Those cardiovascular surgeons are: Ruben Lopez, MD and Daniel Martinez, MD, FACS.

Harlingen Medical Center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Doctor Martinez said the development of this Cardiovascular Care Center has created one of the most high respected heart centers in the nation. The 3-Star Rating is for setting the highest national performance levels for both clinical and managerial excellence.

For further information about HMC cardiovascular care, direct inquiries to: HARLINGEN MEDICAL CENTER (956) 365-1000 or visit www.harlingenmedicalcenter.com