American Heart Association gives award for heart attack treatment
information released
Lake Chelan Health EMS has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: “Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Achievement Award” for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks.
The Lifeline program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks from the time 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 the healthcare system.
Lake Chelan Health EMS Director Ray Eickmeyer said, “we’re honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing optimal care for heart attack patients. The Lifeline program puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, so patients have the best chance of survival.”
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. “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.
