For the second year in a row, UPMC Western Maryland has received both the Mission: Lifeline® NSTEMI Gold Quality Achievement Award and the Mission: Lifeline® Gold 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.

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest 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.

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program’s goal is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 9-1-1 call, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. The initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines.

UPMC Western Maryland earned the NSTEMI Gold Quality Achievement award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment of NSTEMI heart attack patients by providing emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries when needed, and the Gold Receiving Achievement award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick and appropriate treatment through emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries in heart attack patients coming into the hospital directly or by transfer from another facility.

“We are very proud to again be recognized by the American Heart Association for the excellent care we provide to our heart attack patients here at UPMC Western Maryland” said Christopher Haas, D.O., Chairman of Internal Medicine and Medical Director of Cardiology. “It truly is a team effort that requires excellence from multiple services, including our first responders, emergency department, nursing staff, hospitalist service, data collectors, administration, and, of course, the entire Cardiology Department. We review and discuss our processes for every emergency heart attack that comes through our door, and we fine tune even the smallest of details in order to ensure our patients receive top-notch care that meets or exceeds national standards. To receive this award multiple times from the American Heart Association is exceptional and is truly an honor shared by our entire team.”

“We commend UPMC Western Maryland for these awards in recognition for following evidence-based guidelines for timely heart attack treatment,” said Tim Henry, M.D., Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Acute Coronary Syndrome Subcommittee. “We applaud the significant institutional commitment to their critical role in the system of care for quickly and appropriately treating heart attack patients.”