St. Francis Health earns national recognition for heart attack care

INDIANAPOLIS – ‘Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis has qualified to receive the American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline Bronze Award.

The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care thereby improving the survival and outcomes for patients suffering the most severe form of heart attack called STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction).

Every year, nearly 250,000 Americans experience the STEMI type of heart attack, which is  severe heart attack caused by a prolonged period of blocked blood supply that affects a large area of the heart, which carries a substantial risk of death and disability.

“As a heart attack receiving center, we are being recognized for having high-quality processes in place along with highly trained staff to manage the heart needs of STEMI patients, while improving their outcomes and quality of life,” said Michael Hertel, executive director for the Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center.

The Heart Center’s systems of care close the gap of timely access to appropriate, life-saving treatments. Before they are discharged, appropriate patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers in the hospital and receive smoking cessation counseling.

Hospitals receiving the Mission: Lifeline Bronze Performance Achievement Award have demonstrated for 90 consecutive days that at least 85 percent of eligible STEMI patients (without contraindications) are treated within specific time frames upon entering the hospital and discharged following AHA’s recommended treatment guidelines.

The 2012 HealthGrades report cited Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis’ cardiac program as No. 1 in Indiana. It also was rated among the nation’s best for overall cardiac and cardiology services, and coronary interventional procedures.

To learn more about the report go to http://stfrancisnews.blogspot.com/2011/10/franciscan-st-francis-health-cardiac.html