Samaritan Hospital has been recognized with the Mission: Lifeline Bronze Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association (AHA) 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 most deadly 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 goal of AHA’s Mission: Lifeline program is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 9-1-1 call, and continuing through hospital treatment.
In addition to the Mission: Lifeline Bronze Receiving Quality Achievement Award, Samaritan Hospital has also been named as a recipient of the Mission: Lifeline Bronze-Plus Award, which recognizes the hospital has reached an achievement score of 75 percent or greater for treating STEMI transfer patients within 120 minutes for at least a three-month period.
“We are pleased to be recognized for our distinguished achievement and dedication to cardiac care,” said Norman E. Dascher, chief executive officer of Samaritan and St. Mary’s hospitals, and vice president of Acute Care Troy for SPHP. “Samaritan Hospital is committed to improving the quality of care for our patients who suffer a heart attack, and we are proud to strengthen our commitment to excellence through the nationally respected clinical guidelines outlined by the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program.”
Samaritan Hospital earned the award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment of STEMI patients by providing emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries when needed. Eligible hospitals must adhere to these measures at a set level for at least one consecutive 90-day interval.
“This is a remarkable accomplishment, and we are proud of the outstanding work of our entire team at Samaritan,” said Dorothy Urschel, vice president of the Cardiac & Vascular service line for SPHP. “This recognition exemplifies the extraordinary hard work and exceptional care efforts of everyone – from physicians, to nurses. to ancillary support staff across departments – who all collaborate to provide the best possible care for our cardiac patients.”
“We commend Samaritan Hospital for this achievement award, which reflects a significant institutional commitment to the highest quality of care for their heart attack patients,” said James G. Jollis, MD, chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group. “Achieving this award means the hospital has met specific reporting and achievement measures for the treatment of their patients who suffer heart attacks and we applaud them for their commitment to quality and timely care.”
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for STEMI patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, please visit www.heart.org.
