More than 730,000 Americans experience a heart attack annually, and a Longview, Texas hospital is now equipped to handle these emergencies with a higher level of expertise. Longview Regional Medical Center has received Chest Pain Accreditation with Primary PCI from the American College of Cardiology, recognizing its commitment to rapid and effective heart attack treatment.
Advanced Cardiac Care Arrives in East Texas
The accreditation signifies a dedication to streamlined processes and best practices in heart attack care.
- Longview Regional Medical Center earned Chest Pain Accreditation with Primary PCI.
- The accreditation validates the hospital’s ability to quickly and accurately diagnose and treat heart attack patients.
- The program involves rigorous evaluation and ongoing monitoring of care standards.
- AIR 1, East Texas’ first air ambulance service, is celebrating 40 years of service.
- A conference on pest management and weed control is scheduled for January 16 in Tyler.
“We are proud to provide the highest level of comprehensive, life-saving cardiac care right here in our community,” said Patrick Swindle, hospital CEO. “Our physicians, nurses, and team members dedicate themselves each day to upholding the highest standards of heart care, ensuring exceptional outcomes for the patients and families we are honored to serve in East Texas.”
Achieving this accreditation isn’t a simple check-box exercise. Hospitals undergo a detailed process, including a gap analysis, examination of care variances, action plan development, and a thorough onsite review. Sustained success is also monitored to ensure continued high-quality care.
“Longview Regional Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to providing East Texas with excellent heart care,” said Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Longview Regional Medical Center with Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI.”
East Texas AgriLife Conference Set for January 16
Farmers, pest control professionals, and land managers can sharpen their skills at the East Region Texas A&M AgriLife Conference and Expo on January 16 in Tyler. The event, running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cross Brand Cowboy Church, 11915 FM 2015, will offer continuing education units from the Texas Department of Agriculture and Structural Pest Control Service.
Registration is available online at tx.ag/ERAgConference for $10 until noon on January 15, increasing to $20 for on-site registration. Topics include termite identification and control (presented by Janet Hurley), pest identification using integrated pest management (Jacob Wightman), pesticide laws and regulations (Wightman), pesticide safety (Mark Matocha, Ph.D.), spray drift management (Matocha), water and weed management (Greg Grant, Ph.D.), weed control in East Texas forage systems (Vanessa Corriher Olson, Ph.D.), and turfgrass diseases (Grant).
Attendees can earn five Texas Department of Agriculture CEUs (two general, one each in laws/regulations, integrated pest management, and drift minimization) and six Structural Pest Control Services CEUs (two general, one each in termite, pest, weed control, and lawn/ornamental).
AIR 1 Celebrates Four Decades of Lifesaving Flights
UT Health East Texas AIR 1, the region’s pioneering air ambulance service, marked its 40th anniversary in December 2025. The program’s inaugural flight in December 1985 transported a burn patient to Dallas, launching an era of rapid-response emergency care.
Since then, AIR 1 has been instrumental in treating major trauma, cardiac and stroke emergencies, and providing stabilization for adult, pediatric, neonatal, and other high-risk patients. “AIR 1 is especially critical for our rural communities and in situations where time-sensitive care can make the difference between life and death,” said John Smith, CEO of UT Health East Texas EMS/AIR 1. “I am incredibly proud of our team and the countless lives they have touched over the past 40 years. We look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional care to the people of East Texas.”
UT Health East Texas operates four AIR 1 helicopters, strategically located in Athens, Henderson, and Quitman. Each aircraft is staffed 24/7 by a pilot, flight nurse, and paramedic.