News

Miss. Service Celebrates Mission: Lifeline Award

09/03/2015

Sept. 02--Metro Ambulance Service in Meridian has received the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline EMS Silver Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks, a company press release states.

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience a STEMI, or ST elevation myocardial infarction, a type of heart attack caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment, according to the press release.

"To prevent death, it's critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by surgically opening the blocked vessel or by giving clot-busting medication," the press release states.

Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate STEMI patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline's EMS recognition program recognizes emergency responders for their efforts in improving STEMI systems of care and improving the quality of life for these patients.

Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Silver award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for the entire year, and treat at least eight STEMI patients for the year, officials with Mission: Lifeline Silver said.

"EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks," said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. "Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can shave precious minutes of life-saving treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals. We applaud Metro Ambulance Service for achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks."

"Metro Ambulance Service is dedicated to making our unit among the best in the country, and the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that by implementing processes for improving STEMI systems of care with the goal of improving the quality of care for all STEMI patients," Metro Ambulance Director Clayton Cobler said. "We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care for STEMI patients."