Frisbie Memorial Hospital, part of HCA New England Healthcare, has received the American Heart Association’s (AHA’s) Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Achievement Award for its emergency medical services staff’s continued commitment and success in providing the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatment guidelines for individuals suffering suspected heart attacks or strokes at home or other non-ER/hospital locations.
The gold-level award is the highest recognition awarded by the AHA to EMS departments and organizations for implementing heart and stroke quality-improvement measures that ultimately improve outcomes and save lives.
Frisbie Memorial Hospital’s ambulance service has been providing 911 services to the Greater Rochester community since 1985, and responds to nearly 7,000 calls per year.
“The program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment, starting from when 911 is called, to EMS transport, and continuing through hospital treatment,” said Nancy Seskes, RN, chief nursing officer of Frisbie Memorial Hospital. “The treatments that EMS can provide patients before reaching a hospital emergency room, by collaborating with the accepting ER, is crucial and often sets the course for the patient’s outcome.”
The AHA’s Mission: Lifeline EMS program is a national initiative to advance the system of care for patients with high-risk, time sensitive heart attacks and strokes. It was developed by the AHA using national EMS information system data values which focus on the quality of care and outcomes. The program, which helps to connect all components into a seamlessly integrated care system, reinforces evidence-based guidelines and measures performance, identifies gaps and engages in quality improvement. The program was launched in 2014 and continues to celebrate the achievements of EMS teams.
“We are honored to recognize our EMS staff for their dedication to providing quality emergency medical care to our community,” said Thomas Bowden, chief executive officer of Frisbie Memorial Hospital. “Our EMS team is committed to providing the very best possible care, from their first point of contact with patients to our emergency department and beyond.”
Approximately 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes occur each year in the United States. More than 800,000 people die from cardiovascular disease annually with heart attacks and strokes contributing significant to this mortality rate. Access to timely treatment and advanced medical care is critical to improving patient outcomes and mortality rates.