Upland Hills Health Earns Triple National Recognition for Excellence in Rural Heart Attack Care

Upland Hills Health has earned three national awards from the American Heart Association for its commitment to high-quality, lifesaving heart care in a rural setting.

The hospital received the Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Gold Plus, Get With The Guidelines® Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Gold, and Get With The Guidelines® Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS Gold awards.

The latter two awards recognize Upland Hills Health’s commitment to treating two major types of heart attacks (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) and Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome (NSTE-ACS)) with fast, evidence-based care. In both cases, timely diagnosis, coordination, and treatment are critical to saving lives and improving recovery. The STEMI Referring Center Gold Plus award highlights how well Upland Hills Health facilitates seamless and effective care transitions for patients experiencing these heart attacks.

“Our community deserves access to the same lifesaving treatment available in larger cities, and this recognition shows that’s exactly what we’re providing,” said Lisa Schnedler, President and CEO of Upland Hills Health. “I’m proud of the strength and dedication of our care teams, and our deep commitment to providing southwest Wisconsin with the best cardiac care possible.”

Providing advanced emergency heart care in a rural setting presents unique challenges, from long transport times to limited staffing and resources. But Upland Hills Health has made it a mission to ensure those hurdles never lower the standard of care patients receive.

“We bring high-quality, lifesaving cardiac care to the communities we serve every day,” said Patty Hinderman, Director of the Upland Hills Health Emergency Department. “Earning not just one, but three national awards is a powerful testament to the expertise, coordination, and passion of our entire care team.”

A STEMI occurs when a coronary artery is completely blocked—during which every minute counts. NSTE-ACS events are less immediately obvious but equally dangerous, requiring skilled assessment and prompt therapy to prevent complications. These recognitions from the American Heart Association show the hospital is delivering the kind of urgent, expert care that gives patients the best chance of survival.

“Where you live should not determine if you live,” said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, co-author of the American Heart Association’s presidential advisory on rural health. “Upland Hills Health is being recognized for consistently providing patients with the care, guidance, and medical therapy they need to give them the best chance of survival.”

The hospital will be recognized at the American Heart Association’s International Stroke Conference in 2026.

For more information about Upland Hills Health’s emergency and heart care services, visit www.uplandhillshealth.org.