September 29, 2025 – Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) is proud to announce that the NCH Rooney Heart Institute has been recognized by the American College of Cardiology’s National Cardiovascular Data Registry (ACC/NCDR) with a Silver Level Achievement Award in the very first year of participation – the highest distinction attainable in an inaugural year.
This national recognition honors the Rooney Heart Institute’s commitment to providing exceptional, evidence-based cardiac care and achieving high standards in patient outcomes.
Out of all participating hospitals in Florida, only 12 centers achieved any level of award this year, and the NCH Rooney Heart Institute was among them, further solidifying NCH’s position as a leader in cardiovascular excellence.
“This recognition from the ACC/NCDR is a testament to the skill, dedication, and teamwork of our physicians, nurses, and entire cardiac care team,” said Paul Hiltz, President and CEO of NCH. “We are proud to be counted among the top-performing heart programs in the state and to deliver the highest level of care for our patients.”
The Silver Level Achievement Award reflects a comprehensive evaluation process measuring adherence to guideline-directed therapies, quality improvement efforts, and clinical outcomes. Achieving this honor in the first year of participation underscores NCH’s unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and patient-centered care.
“This recognition is yet another testament to the national prominence of the award-winning cardiac services available right here at the NCH Rooney Heart Institute,” said Mazen Albaghdadi, Director, Cardiac Cath Lab and APD, Cardiology Fellowship, Rooney Heart Institute. “It reflects the extraordinary expertise of our team and the advanced care we deliver every day. Bringing these types of honors to NCH underscores our commitment to ensuring that patients in our community have access to world-class cardiovascular care.”
For more information about the NCH Rooney Heart Institute and its award-winning cardiac services, visit NCHmd.org.
ABOUT NCH
NCH (Naples Comprehensive Health) is an Advanced Community Healthcare System™ serving Southwest Florida with premier routine, critical, and specialty care. NCH, a locally governed non-profit, is recognized as one of Healthgrades America’s Top 50 Hospitals which puts it in the top 1% in the nation for clinical excellence, in addition to being named a Top 50 Hospital for Surgical Care. The system is more than just two hospitals (referred to as the NCH Baker Hospital and NCH North Hospital) with a total of 713 beds – NCH is an alliance of over 750 physicians and medical facilities in dozens of locations throughout Southwest Florida and is the region’s only Joint Commission accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center. NCH cardiac care is ranked top three in the state by Healthgrades. NCH collaborates with the Hospital for Special Surgery for orthopedics, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for pediatrics, and ProScan Imaging for radiology services, ensuring top-tier medical care is available in Southwest Florida. With the largest provider network, urgent/immediate care centers, diagnostic facilities, and two hospitals, NCH is always advancing the quality of care near you. For more information, visit www.NCHmd.org.
