Mercy Medical Center receives 2016 Mission: Lifeline GOLD PLUS Recognition Award

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Tags: Mercy Medical Center , health care

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Mercy Medical Center recently received the Mission: Lifeline® GOLD 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.

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

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 and continuing through hospital treatment. Mercy is recognized for having an 85-percent composite adherence and at least 24 consecutive months of 75 percent or higher compliance on all Mission: Lifeline STEMI Receiving Center quality measures to improve the quality of care for STEMI patients.

In addition, the GOLD PLUS designation recognizes that Mercy has not only reached an achievement score of 75 percent or greater on all Mission: Lifeline Receiving Center Quality Measures, but has also demonstrated at least a 75 percent achievement on First Door to Device time under 120 minutes for STEMI transfer patients from other facilities.

“At Mercy, we are dedicated to improving the quality and speed of care for our heart attack patients,” said Ahmed Sabe, M.D., medical director, Mercy Heart Center. “Our emergency heart care innovations have included installing a fully functional cardiac catheterization lab in our emergency department, making it possible to provide some of the world’s fastest door-to-balloon times that save lives and heart muscle. The Mission: Lifeline award is a testament to the effectiveness of what we’re doing at Mercy.”

“We commend Mercy for this achievement award, which reflects a significant institutional commitment to the highest quality of care for their heart attack patients,” said James G. Jollis, MD, Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group. “Achieving this award means the hospital has met specific reporting and achievement measures for the treatment of their patients who suffer heart attacks and we applaud them for their commitment to quality and timely care.”

Mercy earned the award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment of STEMI patients by providing emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries when needed. Eligible hospitals must adhere to these measures at a set level for a designated period to receive the awards.

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 STEMI patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation clinical treatment guidelines.  For more information, visit heart.org.

Mercy Medical Center is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System.