INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health has received the
Mission: Lifeline® Silver Plus Receiving Quality Achievement Award for
implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American
Heart Association for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart
attacks.
Each year in the United States, approximately 250,000 people have
a STEMI, or ST-segment
elevation myocardial infarction, caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment.
To prevent death, it’s critical to immediately restore blood flow, either by
surgically opening the blocked vessel or by giving clot-busting medication.
The Lifeline program helps hospitals, emergency medical services
and communities improve response times so people who suffer from a STEMI
receive prompt, appropriate treatment. The program’s goal is to streamline
systems of care to quickly get heart attack patients from the first “911” call
to hospital treatment.
“Our physicians, nurses, clinicians and support staff are
dedicated to improving the quality of care for our patients who suffer a heart
attack,” said William J. Berg, MD, medical director of Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center. “We are pleased to be
recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care, and I am very
proud of our team.”
“We commend Franciscan St. Francis Health for this achievement
award, which reflects a significant institutional commitment to improve the
quality of care for their heart attack patients,” said A. Gray Ellrodt, MD,
chair of AHA’s Lifeline committee and chief of medicine at the Berkshire
Medical Center in Pittsfield, Mass. “We must all continue this important work
to streamline and coordinate regional systems of care to save lives and prevent
complications.
Franciscan St. Francis earned the award by meeting specific
criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment
of STEMI patients to open the blocked artery.
Before patients are discharged, they are started on aggressive
risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, ACE
inhibitors and beta-blockers, and they receive smoking cessation counseling if
needed. Eligible hospitals must adhere to these measures at a set level for a
designated period to receive the awards.
