Buena Vista Regional Medical Center received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Silver Plus Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks for the second consecutive year.
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.
“BVRMC is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Michele Kelly, Chief Clinical Officer. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care efforts through Mission: Lifeline.”
“We are very proud to earn this award again in 2021. We have worked hard to make improvements in our patient care to better serve our patients,” states Robert Shontz, Ambulance Manager. “We employ the latest evidence based practices to achieve better outcomes for our patients who are having heart attacks and have decreased the time in getting them to the proper Cath lab much faster than in the past.”
Pictured L-R and F-B: Lorinda Peterson, EMT; Dave Patton, AEMT; Kyle Ford, Paramedic; Neal Eisenbacher, Paramedic; Laura Degner, Paramedic; John Dahl, Paramedic; Matt Imming, Emergency Services Educator/Supervisor; Robert Shontz, Ambulance Manager; Loren Booth, Paramedic; Dr. Garrett Feddersen, ER Medical Director; Mickey Sauser, Paramedic; Kenny Moen, Paramedic; Lindsay Brown, AEMT; and Joyce Schnabel, Paramedic. Those not pictured: Cody Cameron, Paramedic; Trish Finzen, Paramedic; Eric Hennings, Paramedic; Michele Ronfeldt, EMT; and Sarah Naberhaus, Director of ER/Ambulance.