St. Rita’s Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience 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.

The Mission: Lifeline initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the medical center and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.  

“LACP is very proud to have received this award,” said Chad Premo, executive director of LACP Ambulance and director of Operations of LifeStar Ambulance. “We would like to acknowledge the dedication and excellent care that is rendered everyday by our highly trained professional team of pre-hospital care providers. This award is the culmination of their efforts and team work. Through great collaboration with other EMS agencies and hospitals we are able to work effectively to save lives and provide the care that our patients deserve.”

Through training, education, and staff dedication, LACP is 99% compliant with the requirements when the AHA requires 75% and greater.  St. Rita’s goal is to lead the community in STEMI care and treatment. 

“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said Tim Henry, MD, 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. We applaud LACP for achieving this award in following evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”