COLUMBUS, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) — The ambulance service at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle has received the American Heart Association’s 2016 Mission: Lifeline® EMS-Silver Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.
Every year almost 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 flor 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. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care and improving the quality of life for those patients.
Emergency Medical System providers are vital to the success of Mission: Lifeline. EMS agencies perform 12-lead EKGs 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 tolls, 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 Silver award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for one year.
“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said James Jollis, MD, chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group. “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 Baptist Hospital Golden Triangle’s EMS for achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”
With 315 beds, Baptist Golden Triangle is the largest regional hospital affiliated with the Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care system. More than 100 physicians and surgeons, representing almost every medical specialty, practice at the hospital which offers a full range of comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages.
In 2013, the hospital received the prestigious VHA Leadership for Clinical Excellence award. The facility was one of only 10 acute care hospitals larger than 250 beds and the only hospital in Mississippi to receive the distinction that honors hospitals for achieving national performance standards for all three Leadership award categories; clinical quality, safety and patient experience. In 2014, Baptist Golden Triangle received the Hospital of the Year award (100 beds or more) from the Mississippi Nurses Association.
The hospital offers a variety of services to the community, including the Baptist Cancer Center, Baptist Behavioral Health Care for those with behavioral and mental health problems, an extensive rehabilitation department and free community education programs. For more information, please call 662-244-1000 or visit http://goldentriangle.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Baptistgoldentriangle.
One quality improvement measure considered for the award is pre-hospital cardiac care, or the percentage of chest pain patients older than 35 who receive a 12-lead EKG before arriving at the hospital, said Bourland.
EMS providers use the EKG to help determine if a heart attack has occurred and then use correct tools, training and practices to notify the hospital and trigger an early response from waiting hospital personnel.
Baptist Golden Triangle’s ambulance service was the first in the Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care system and the second in Mississippi to place 12-lead EKGs on all of its front line ambulances and transmit from the field.
According to Bourland, another quality measure considered is how quickly a patient suffering from chest pain with a blocked vessel has circulation restored. The national goal from first medical contact to device placement is less than 90 minutes. The average time for Baptist Golden Triangle’s emergency medical technicians and cardiac team is currently 52 minutes, according to Sherry Elmore, Baptist Golden Triangle director of cardiac services.
Bourland praised the paramedics for staying alert to potential cardiac situations, for being aggressive in following protocols and for working as a team when responding to patients with chest pain.
“I am extremely proud of our team of highly trained EMT/paramedics. They work very hard every day to meet the emergency needs of the residents in our county,” said Bourland. “By receiving this award, it shows that they are doing an outstanding job of meeting the guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks and that they are a vital part of our cardiac team,’ he added.
With 315 beds, Baptist Golden Triangle is the largest regional hospital affiliated with the Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care system. More than 100 physicians and surgeons, who represent almost every medical specialty, practice at the hospital, which offers a full range of comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages.
The hospital offers a variety of services to the community, including the Baptist Cancer Center, Baptist Behavioral Health Care for those with behavioral and mental health problems, an extensive rehabilitation department, and free community education programs. Baptist Golden Triangle employs more than 1,000 health care professionals.
For more information, please call 662-244-1000 or visit http://goldentriangle.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Baptistgoldentriangle.
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