Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) has once again received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks.
Each 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 is critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks – starting from when 9-1-1 is called, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. Optimal care for heart attack patients takes coordination between the individual hospital, EMS and healthcare system.
“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said Tim Henry, M.D., chair of the Mission: Lifeline Acute Coronary Syndrome Subcommittee. “Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can save precious minutes of treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals to an incoming heart attack patient.”
Program participants apply for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care for STEMI patients.
“Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Jerome Segal, MD, medical director of cardiovascular services at LHAAMC. “The mission of Luminis Health is to enhance the health of the people we serve. Our commitment expanded this year when we opened the first cardiac surgery program in Anne Arundel County, providing our patients with integrated comprehensive heart care.”
Services for heart attack patients
Hospitals that meet AHA quality standards not only know the importance of treating quickly and safely, but they also follow evidence-based research that helps to determine why a patient had a heart attack or stroke in the first place. To learn more about LHAAMC’s heart services, visit https://aahs.org/Get-Care/Heart-and-Vascular-Care/
