Ada County Paramedics Receive American Heart Association Award for Medical Advances in Heart Attack Patients

BOISE, IDAHO —  Ada County Paramedics was honored today with the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Mission: Lifeline® Quality Achievement Award for improving protocols for patients with STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) heart attacks. “When Ada County Paramedics identify a STEMI heart attack, we’re able to quickly alert the hospital cardiologist and often bypass the Emergency Department altogether, taking the patient directly to the cardiac cath lab for immediate treatment—which can save precious minutes,” said Ada County Paramedics’ Deputy Chief Peder Humlen-Ahearn. Each year, more than 250,000 people experience an STEMI, which is 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 flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication. “EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said Tim Henry, M.D., Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Acute Coronary Syndrome Subcommittee. “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 Ada County Paramedics for achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have ...
Source: JEMS Patient Care - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Cardiac & Resuscitation Industry News Press Releases Source Type: news