Provided
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center has earned two American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline® quality achievement awards that demonstrate AtlantiCare’s commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
The 2023 Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Gold Plus award was awarded to AtlantiCare’s Heart and Lung Institute on the Mainland campus in Pomona.
The award recognizes ARMC’s commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing a specific type of heart attack called ST elevation myocardial infarction, known to be more severe and dangerous than other types of heart attacks. ARMC provides 24/7 support for STEMI, coordinating with a network of referring hospitals and emergency medical services to provide guideline-directed STEMI and Non-STEMI care.
The Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold award with Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll award presented to the hospitals Emergency Medical Services unit recognizes the advance the system of care ARMC provides patients with high-risk, time-sensitive disease states, including severe heart attacks and strokes. This award highlights the collaboration and contributions of both prehospital and hospital providers. This time-critical award level is limited to those agencies that provide patient transport to STEMI-receiving and STEMI-referring centers.
“We are committed to improving, and ensuring timely and proper care for heart attacks and strokes,” CEO Larisa Goganzer said. “Our team uses the Mission: Lifeline programs to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis. This helps us ensure more people experience longer, healthier lives. These recognitions are a testament to the teamwork of hundreds of individuals at AtlantiCare in meeting or exceeding care recommendations. They unite to save lives of, and make lives healthier for, individuals in the community, in the hospital and after discharge. They also focus on shortening recovery times and preventing readmissions to the hospital for our patients through use of the Mission: Lifeline programs.”
According to the American Heart Association:
- Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack
- Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively.
- Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.
Mission: Lifeline puts the expertise of the American Heart and American Stroke associations to work for hospitals nationwide. It helps ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Mission: Lifeline program, ARMC qualified for the awards by demonstrating how it has committed to improving quality care.
“We’re pleased to recognize ARMC for its commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said John Warner, MD, past president of American Heart Association, and CEO of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “Hospitals that follow the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for healthcare systems, families and communities.”
“The most important link in the chains of survival for acute stroke and cardiovascular emergencies is emergency medical services and prehospital professionals,” said Dr. Edward Jauch, chairman of Department of Research, University of North Carolina Health Sciences at Mountain Area Health Center. “Early condition identification, stabilization and prehospital interventions, and initiation of actions within the regional systems of care provide patients with the best chance for receiving expedient definitive therapies leading to optimal outcomes and maximized quality of life.
“When it comes to symptoms of a stroke or heart attack, remember, dial 911 immediately,” Goganzer said.
