Prompt response times, high-quality of care, and effective coordination of patient care with receiving centers resulted in the American Heart Association presenting the Idaho Falls Fire Department (IFFD) and Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) with several Mission:Lifeline recognition awards at a press conference earlier today.
The Mission: Lifeline initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines. The program recognizes hospitals, emergency medical service agencies and other supporting agencies for their efforts in improving systems of care to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the medical center and triggering an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.
“Our department is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Eric Day, EMS Division Chief for the Idaho Falls Fire Department. “We are pleased to once again be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care efforts. Thank you to the 911 dispatchers, our first responders and a special thank you to Tammy Coffel, Quality Management Specialist at EIRMC for her commitment and expertise.”
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.
Coffel states, “EIRMC is fortunate to work with such a great team at IFFD. The prehospital care of our STEMI patients is fundamental in their successful outcomes. From the 911 call to the cardiac catheterization lab, time is critical to save heart muscle. Thanks to IFFD and their collaborative efforts with EIRMC to make the process as streamlined and patient focused as possible.”
The American Heart Association also presented EIRMC with the GWTG Stroke Gold Plus Target Stroke Elite Plus award. The award recognizes the hospital for meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.
Jessica Rosing, AHA’s Quality and Systems Improvement Team, stated, “Your continued support of and participation in the AHA’s Mission:Lifeline program is sincerely appreciated. Your participation in the program, along with this achievement, is yet another milestone in the successful implementation of guideline-based treatment for patients and is most definitely impacting the AHA’s fight against cardiovascular disease.”
Media Note: For additional information, please contact IFFD Public Information Officer Kerry Hammon at (208) 612-8122; EIRMC Director of Marketing & Community Relations, Coleen Niemann at (208) 529-6213 or Jessica Rosing, Regional Director of Quality & Systems Improvement, American Heart Association at (801) 702-4429.