From left, Bob Knoll, cardiac catheterization lab director at UP Health System-Marquette; state Rep. Sara Cambensy, D-Marquette; Brian Sinotte, CEO of UPHS-Marquette and market president of UP Health System; Yazan Khouri, MD; and state Rep. Scott Dianda, D-Calumet, stand with a plaque that was presented to the hospital Monday morning in recognition of a recent cath lab accreditation. (Journal photo by Jaymie Depew)

MARQUETTE — State Reps. Sara Cambensy, D-Marquette, and Scott Dianda, D-Calumet, presented a plaque to UP Health System-Marquette officials Monday morning, recognizing the hospital’s recent accreditation of its cardiac catheterization lab.

In March, the American College of Cardiology Accreditation Services acknowledged UPHS-Marquette, a Duke LifePoint hospital, for its commitment in treating patients who come to its cardiac cath lab for care. Facilities that achieve the accreditation must meet or exceed an extremely detailed evaluation based on meticulous data and onsite assessments of its overall operation.

UPHS-Marquette is the first hospital in Michigan and fourth in the nation to be awarded an accreditation for its cardiac cath lab that includes percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI, procedures.

Brian Sinotte, UPHS-Marquette CEO and market president of UP Health System, thanked Dianda and Cambensy for traveling to Marquette and recognizing the hospital for its achievement.

“We are fourth in the United States and the first in the state of Michigan to get this accreditation,” Sinotte said. “To achieve that is an honor.”

As Cambensy handed the plaque to Sinotte — which had signatures of several state officials, including Gov. Rick Snyder, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and Sen. Tom Casperson — she congratulated the hospital for achieving the accreditation.

“We congratulate you on this award and we’re very proud of you. Being born and raised in Marquette and a type I diabetic for 30 years, I know what it means to trust your hospital and look forward to care they provide,” Cambensy said.

Dianda echoed Cambensy’s comments and said it was a pleasure to be in the area to acknowledge the hospital for its success.

Bob Knoll, cath lab director at UPHS-Marquette, said he’s grateful his team is being recognized by the state.

“It’s a great honor that our state representatives took the time to come up to present this to us and show recognition for my team,” Knoll said. “It’s a testament to the quality care we provide and I’m very proud.”

UPHS-Marquette’s cath lab provides comprehensive cardiovascular services including general cardiology, diagnostic testing, diagnostic and interventional cardiology, clinical research, electrophysiology, rehabilitation, vascular care and open-heart surgery.

Jaymie Depew can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206.