The Noblesville Fire Department Emergency Medical Services recently received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Award for implementing life-saving practices for patients who experience severe heart attacks.
The Noblesville Fire Department was honored for its efforts to improve the systems of care for patients with acute coronary syndrome, including both ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) heart attacks.
Every year, more than 250,000 people experience STEMI heart attacks, which are the most deadly type of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart. This type of heart attack requires timely treatment, and EMS providers play a vital role as they perform 12-lead ECGs, which measure the electrical activity of the heart and can help determine if a heart attack has occurred.
Healthcare providers’ actions during the first few hours of a heart attack determine the patient’s level of benefit from intervention and treatment. Noblesville Fire Department EMS worked to enhance collaboration with hospital providers while treating high-risk patients, thereby enhancing the quality of care for STEMI patients.
Macky
“We are grateful for partners like Riverview Health who provide outstanding medical direction, training, and equipment which enhances our agencies ability to recognize and treat STEMI patients quickly and efficiently,” said James Macky, Division Chief of Emergency Medical Services for the Noblesville Fire Department. “This high honor from the American Heart Association recognizes the high quality care our paramedics and EMTs provide to Noblesville residents and our strong partnerships within our area. We are very proud of our EMS providers.”
The 2018 Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Award recipients were evaluated based on criteria relating to the care of STEMI patients. Those that received the award demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for two consecutive years, achieved a silver or gold award in the previous year, and treated at least eight STEMI patients in 2017.
Mission: Lifeline is a coordinated, proactive system of care that turns first responders, hospitals and other healthcare providers into a team that uses proven guidelines and best practices to treat cardiac patients. The goal is to save lives by closing the gaps in STEMI patient care and providing innovative tools and measures to improve the speed and quality of care.