TecSalud’s Zambrano Hellion Hospital has become the second private hospital in Mexico and the first in Monterrey to obtain Chest Pain Center Certification.
By
Paula Treviño
| TecSalud Communications
-
09/14/2026
Photo
TecSalud Communications ,
Mauricio Castillo,
Shutterstock
Read time: 4 mins
TecSalud’s Zambrano Hellion Hospital has solidified its reputation in the highly specialized field of cardiology after becoming a certified center for the care of patients admitted to the hospital for a heart attack.
This recognition, known as Chest Pain Center Certification, is awarded by the American Heart Association (AHA), one of the leading international organizations in the field of cardiology.
“It’s been a long process during which the main task has been to consolidate all of our internal and quality processes in order to obtain certification,” said Dr. Alexis Barrera, Director of the SICA Code Program at TecSalud.
Hospital Zambrano Hellion is the second private hospital in Mexico and the first in Monterrey to receive this certification.
Cardiac catheterization at Zambrano Hellion Hospital. Photo: Dr. Mauricio Castillo
What is a heart attack?
Dr. Barrera explained that a heart attack occurs when one of the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the heart becomes blocked.
“It’s essential to act immediately because the longer the artery remains blocked, the more dangerous it becomes: no organ should be deprived of oxygen,” he said.
He added that the main symptom, in both men and women of any age, is severe chest pain.
However, about 20% of older adults or women may experience atypical symptoms, such as shortness of breath, fainting, abdominal pain, or delirium (the latter particularly in older adults).
Representation of a heart attack.
The importance of responding within minutes
For Dr. Barrera, it is essential for a hospital to have the skill to properly treat a heart attack, since every minute of delay increases the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome.
“What we do at Zambrano Hellion Hospital is extraordinary. Everyone from the administrative staff to the medical staff knows what to do when a patient arrives in the emergency room,” he said.
In the event of a possible heart attack, he said that an alert is automatically triggered throughout the hospital, allowing all relevant staff to be mobilized immediately.
“We’re all working toward a single aim: to clear the blockage in less than 90 minutes,” he said.
Emergency department at Zambrano Hellion Hospital.
The standards underpinning excellence in healthcare
In order to earn this Chest Pain Center Certification, Zambrano Hellion Hospital underwent a rigorous evaluation and verification process conducted by the AHA.
The main guidelines evaluated include:
Perform an electrocardiogram in less than 10 minutes; at the hospital, the average is less than 5 minutes.
All patients should be given specific medication upon admission to lower their cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart rate.
All patients should undergo a cardiac function assessment before discharge.
The time from arrival at the emergency department until the artery is reopened should be less than 90 minutes; the hospital records an average of 60 minutes.
“At the hospital, we comply 100 percent with these measures, and that is why we are proud today to hold Chest Pain Center Certification,” Dr. Barrera said.
“It’s a rigorous certification process, but all the hard work serves a great purpose: the patient.” – Dr. Alexis Barrera
A vision that goes beyond certification
Beyond the recognition earned, this certification represents an opportunity for Dr. Barrera and the TecSalud team to reaffirm the purpose that drives their work: saving lives.
“In fact, that’s the main aim when you decide to pursue a degree in the health field,” he said.
“And nothing saves more lives than a primary angioplasty—clearing a blocked artery during a heart attack,” he added.
Finally, Dr. Alexis Barrera explained how the next challenge is to maintain the standards achieved and continue to strengthen the protocols and programs that improve cardiovascular care at the hospital.
“We’ve got numerous programs that support our high level of expertise in cardiology, such as the cardiac rehabilitation program, the smoking cessation program, and the cardiogenic shock treatment program, in addition to all the technology and infrastructure,” he said.
All of these initiatives are part of a vision that goes beyond the treatment of heart attacks: to make TecSalud the best Academic Health Center in Latin America for the treatment of all types of diseases.
According to the specialist, this aim involves continuing to innovate, strengthening medical care, and, above all, putting the wellbeing of each patient at the center, in order to continue transforming lives and advancing healthcare.
