St. Mary earned the award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick and appropriate treatment of heart attack patients
The Times
St. Mary Medical Center has earned the Mission: Lifeline Gold STEMI Award for implementing quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks.
Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.
St. Mary earned the Lifeline award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick and appropriate treatment. The criteria includes consecutive 24-month intervals of compliance to STEMI Receiving Center Performance Achievement indicators, in addition to emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow of blocked arteries in heart attack patients into the hospital directly or by transfer from another facility.
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program goal is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 9–1–1 call, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. The initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines.
“St. Mary Medical Center is dedicated to providing the best possible care for our heart attack patients by utilizing leading edge technology, creating sustainable partnerships with our first responder community and implementing educational programs,” said Dr. Larry Brilliant, VP and chief medical officer. “This recognition truly belongs to everyone on our STEMI teams who save lives everyday.”
“We commend St. Mary Medical Center for implementing and adhering to evidence-based guidelines for timely heart attack treatment,” said Tim Henry, M.D., chair of the Mission: Lifeline acute coronary syndrome subcommittee. “We applaud the significant institutional commitment to its critical role in the system of care for quickly and appropriately treating heart attack patients.”
