Atrium Medical Center has received the Mission: Lifeline® Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association for the treatment of 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’s 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’s goal is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 9-1-1 call, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. The initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines.
Atrium earned the award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick and appropriate treatment through emergency procedures. Such procedures re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries in heart attack patients coming into the hospital directly or by transfer from another facility.
“Atrium Medical Center is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Mouhamad Abdallah, M.D., medical director of Atrium’s Chest Pain Center and medical director of Atrium’s cardiac catheterization lab. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care through Mission: Lifeline.”
Atrium is one of two hospitals in the Cincinnati market to receive the Gold or Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. Gold is the second highest level of recognition from the American Heart Association for facilities that receive severe heart attack patients, and Gold Plus is the association’s highest honor for this program. Nationwide, 78 hospitals received the Gold Award and another 66 hospitals received the Gold Plus Award, according to the heart association.
“We commend Atrium Medical Center for this award in recognition for following evidence-based guidelines for timely heart attack treatment,” said Tim Henry, M.D., Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Acute Coronary Syndrome Subcommittee. “We applaud the significant institutional commitment to their critical role in the system of care for quickly and appropriately treating heart attack patients.”
About Premier Health
Based in Dayton, Ohio, Premier Health (www.premierhealth.com) has a mission to improve the health of the communities it serves. The health system operates four hospitals: Miami Valley Hospital with an additional site at Miami Valley Hospital South; Good Samaritan Hospital; Atrium Medical Center; and Upper Valley Medical Center. The health system is the second largest employer in the region and the largest health-care system in Southwest Ohio.
About Mission: Lifeline
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, visit heart.org.
