FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2021
CONTACT INFO. :
Capt. John Potvin
Dir. of Emergency Medical Services
(401) 639-0762
East Providence Fire Dept. earns national recognition for efforts to improve STEMI treatment
The American Heart Association presents Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Achievement Award for implementation of quality care for severe heart attack patients
EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – The East Providence Fire Dept. has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks.
Every year, more than 250,000 people experience a ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack caused by 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.
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks – starting from when 9-1-1 is called, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. Optimal care for heart attack patients takes coordination between the individual hospital, EMS and healthcare system.
“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 save precious minutes of treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals to an incoming heart attack patient.”
Program participants apply for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care for STEMI patients.
“East Providence Fire Department is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” Director of Emergency Medical Services Capt. John Potvin said. “The Mission: Lifeline program puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis so patients have the best possible chance of survival.”
About Mission: Lifeline
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for acute coronary syndrome patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit heart.org.
