Magnolia Receives Trio of America Heart Association Awards
August 4, 2017 9:01 am
Last week, Magnolia Regional Health Center received a trio of the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® awards 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 most deadly 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.
Unfortunately, a significant number of STEMI patients don’t receive this prompt reperfusion therapy, which is critical in restoring blood flow. Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate these patients from timely access to appropriate treatments.
Among the three awards MRHC received were the Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Award, Mission: Lifeline® Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award, and Mission: Lifeline® NSTEMI Silver Quality Achievement Award. By receiving this recognition, MRHC has accomplished their goal of reducing system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 9-1-1 call and continuing through hospital treatment.
“MRHC is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our patients who suffer a heart attack, and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that goal through nationally respected clinical guidelines,” said Ronny Humes, CEO at Magnolia Regional Health Center. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care, and I am very proud of our team.”
Emergency Medical System providers are vital to the success of Mission: Lifeline. EMS agencies perform 12-lead ECGs which measure the electrical activity of the heart and can help determine if a heart attack has occurred. They also follow protocols derived from American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. These correct tools, training, and practices allow EMS providers to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the medical center, and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel. Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Award, as MRHC did, have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for two years.
In order to be recognized with the Mission: Lifeline® Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award, MRHC demonstrated a 85% composite adherence and at least 24 consecutive months of 75% or higher compliance on all Mission: Lifeline STEMI Receiving Center quality measures to improve the quality of care for STEMI patients. In addition to receiving the Mission: Lifeline Gold Receiving award, MRHC has also been recognized as a recipient of Mission: Lifeline’s Gold-Plus award, which recognizes the hospital has not only reached an achievement score of 75 percent or greater on all Mission: Lifeline Receiving Center Quality Measures, but also for achieving at least a 75 percent achievement on First Door to Device time under 120 minutes for STEMI transfer patients from other facilities.
MRHC earned the Mission: Lifeline® NSTEMI Silver Quality Achievement Award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment of NSTEMI patients by providing emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries when needed. Eligible hospitals must have adhered to these measures at a set level for 12 consecutive months to receive this award.
“We commend Magnolia Regional Health Center for these achievement awards, which reflect a significant institutional commitment to the highest quality of care for their heart attack patients,” said James G. Jollis, MD, past 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.”
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 and NSTEMI 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.
This post was written by Magnolia Regional Health Center
