Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center (EMRMC) has been recognized for the high quality of care given to its patients. On March 24, EMRMC received the 2026 Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) Quality Award. The KHA Quality Award is presented to honor hospital leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment in patient care.

The Award was presented to EMRMC for achieving American College of Cardiology (ACC) Heart Failure Accreditation with outpatient services. The designation places the hospital among only four in Kentucky to hold this distinction, reflecting a high standard of care for heart failure patients. EMRMC was awarded Heart Failure Accreditation with Outpatient Services based on rigorous onsite review of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients with heart failure through pre-hospital care, early stabilization, acute care, transitional care, clinical quality measures and more. In collaboration with Ephraim McDowell Heart & Vascular Institute, EMRMC has extended their commitment to care for the heart failure population beyond the acute hospital setting.

Heart failure is a chronic and progressive condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. Hospitals that employ an evidence-based, protocol-driven and systematic approach to managing heart failure have been able to reduce time to treatment and are able to identify and predict high-risk patients while also reducing length-of-stay and hospital readmissions.

“We are honored to receive the Kentucky Hospital Association Quality Award, which reflects the dedication of our entire team to delivering safe, high-quality care to every patient we serve,” says Jason Dean, Ephraim McDowell Health Vice President of Clinical Effectiveness.  “Achieving the American College of Cardiology Heart Failure Accreditation with Outpatient Services is a significant milestone for Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center and demonstrates our commitment to providing comprehensive, evidence-based care across the full continuum—from early intervention to long-term management. This recognition reinforces our mission to improve outcomes for patients living with heart failure and to continually raise the standard of care in the communities we serve.”