Jul 7

Jul 7 Mission Life Saver

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center Received the Mission: Lifeline® Bronze Receiving Quality Achievement Award

In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. Every 60 seconds, more than one person in the United States dies from a heart disease-related event (The Heart Foundation). Wouldn’t it be good to know that there’s a medical team involved that utilizes best practices to help us improve our chances at surviving a heart attack?

There is.

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (MSMHC) has received the Mission: Lifeline® Bronze 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.

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 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.

MSMHC earned the award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick and appropriate treatment through emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries in heart attack patients coming into the hospital directly or by transfer from another facility.

“Our hospital is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said MSMHC President Christine Wray. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care through Mission: Lifeline.”

“We commend MSMHC 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.”