Cardiology
Accredited Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI | Accredited Cardiac Cath Lab | Primary Stroke Center | Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation | Duke Heart Affiliation | U.S. News & World Report High Performing Hospital ratings for Heart Attack and Heart Failure | And more
Making Heart Health A Priority
Heart health is about more than just your heart. Blood pressure, cholesterol, family history and other factors all play important roles in keeping your heart strong. If you have questions about your heart health but aren’t quite sure where to begin, start with a heart health assessment and learn more about any risks you may have for heart-related conditions. As an accredited Chest Pain Center, your journey to a stronger heart starts here.
Cardiology Services
Frye Regional Medical Center is a leader in advanced cardiology care in Hickory. The multi-disciplinary cardiology team at Frye Regional Medical Center offers an integrated approach to heart care that spans the spectrum from prevention and diagnostic care to the latest in surgical treatments and rehabilitation. We are here providing quality heart care, close to home, when you need it most.
Frye Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint hospital, provides open heart surgery, 24/7 interventional cardiology, and an experienced network of heart surgeons, specialists, and cardiovascular providers.
The Frye Regional Heart Center is the first Duke Health affiliate in western North Carolina. Backed by the resources of Duke Health, Frye Regional gains access to the most current training and staff education as well as the latest Duke guidelines and best practices to enhance the quality of cardiovascular care across the Catawba Valley region.
Conditions we manage & treat:
- Arrhythmias
- Atrial fibrillation
- Bradycardia
- Congenital heart defects
- Congestive heart failure
- Coronary artery disease (narrowing of the coronary arteries)
- Heart valve disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
- Vascular disease
- Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)
Click the links below to learn more about our heart services:
Next Steps
Find a Cardiologist
Need help finding a cardiologist? We can help.
Quality Heart Care, Close to Home
Your heart is in the right hands at Frye Regional Medical Center.
Learn More About Chest Pain
As an accredited Chest Pain Center, we provide our patients with the best heart care treatment available.
At-a-Glance: Frye Regional Heart Care
- 16 years of consecutive recognition in heart attack and stroke care (AHA)
- 10 years of top-tier performance in heart failure care (AHA)
- 5 consecutive years as an ACC HeartCARE Center™: Fewer than 100 hospitals nationwide hold this honor!
- 11 consecutive years earning the Platinum Performance Achievement Award for heart attack care (ACC)
- Top 10% nationwide for outpatient prostate care (Healthgrades)
- High Performing in pacemaker implantation (U.S. News & World Report)
- One of only 2 hospitals in North Carolina with Five-Star ratings in both defibrillator and pacemaker procedures (Healthgrades)
Quality Heart Care, Close to Home
Awards and Recognitions
At Frye Regional Medical Center, our greatest measure of success is the health and well-being of the patients we serve. Every day, our team is dedicated to combining advanced technology with compassionate, personalized care to help individuals live longer, healthier lives.
We are honored that this commitment has been recognized by respected national organizations. These accolades reflect not only the skill of our physicians, nurses and staff, but also our ongoing investment in patient safety, quality improvement and evidence-based practices.
American Heart Association (AHA)
The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® program recognizes hospitals that consistently follow evidence-based care for heart and vascular conditions. For patients, this means care that is proven to save lives and improve recovery.
Heart Attack Care Recognitions
- STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus
- NSTEMI Silver with Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll
- 16 consecutive years of recognition, including 14 years at Gold or higher
Stroke Care Recognitions
- Gold Plus with Target: Stroke℠ Elite Honor Roll
- Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll
- 16 consecutive years of recognition
Heart Failure Care Recognitions
- Gold Plus with Target: Heart Failure Optimal℠ Honor Roll
- Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll
- 10 consecutive years of top-tier performance
Resuscitation Care Recognition
- Resuscitation Target: CPR
American College of Cardiology (ACC)
The ACC’s HeartCARE Center™ National Distinction of Excellence is its highest honor, awarded to fewer than 100 hospitals nationwide. For patients, this recognition means Frye Regional consistently meets the most rigorous standards in heart care. It reflects our commitment to continuous improvement, specialized accreditation, ongoing provider education and strong community engagement.
ACC Accreditations
- Cardiac Catheterization with PCI Accreditation (2025 – 2028)
- Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation (2023 – 2026)
- NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award (11 consecutive years)
NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award
Frye Regional Medical Center has earned the Platinum Performance Achievement Award for heart attack care, recognizing our success in consistently delivering fast, effective and evidence-based treatment. This honor means patients can trust that our team follows the highest national standards set by the ACC and AHA.
Healthgrades
Healthgrades awards are based entirely on patient outcomes, meaning they reflect real, patient results. Frye Regional ranks among the nation’s top hospitals in multiple specialties:
- Outpatient Prostate Care Award™ (2026) – Top 10% nationwide
- Five-Star Distinction in the treatment of these diseases:
- Stroke (2026)
- COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2025 – 2026)
- Pneumonia (2024 – 2026)
- Pulmonary embolism (2025 – 2026)
- GI bleed (2026)
- Five-Star Distinction in these procedures:
- Defibrillator (2026)
- Pacemaker (2025 – 2026)
Frye Regional is one of only two hospitals in North Carolina to achieve Five-Star ratings in both defibrillator and pacemaker procedures. These distinctions are based entirely on patient outcomes across more than 30 common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide. Healthgrades uses objective measures to identify hospitals that consistently deliver exceptional results.
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News evaluates thousands of hospitals nationwide to help patients make informed decisions about their care. Frye Regional has been named High Performing in Pacemaker Implantation — the highest distinction available in the Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings. This honor is based on rigorous national standards. U.S. News assessed more than 4,400 hospitals across 15 specialties and 22 procedures, with only one-third earning recognition. Rankings are based on objective measures, such as:
- Risk-adjusted mortality rates
- Preventable complications
- Level of nursing care
While awards are meaningful, they are simply a reflection of what matters most: you. These recognitions serve as reassurance that the care you and your loved ones receive at Frye Regional meets the highest national standards. As a team of healthcare professionals, our true reward is seeing healthier outcomes, faster recoveries and lives lived more fully.