Bowling Green Fire Division has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks.
“Your agency is a part of an elite group of prehospital agencies recognized by the American Heart Association,” the AHA wrote to the BG Fire Division. “The award recognizes your commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of prehospital care by ensuring that every STEMI patient receives treatment according to nationally accepted recommendations and standards.”
Each 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 is 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 911 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 Dr. Tim Henry, 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.
Firefighter/Paramedic Brandon Westerman organized the effort, briefing division personnel of the criteria needed to achieve recognition, and then analyzed all pertinent EMS responses from 2020 to compile the data for AHA to demonstrate that BGFD excels in all the set criteria.
“It definitely feels good that we’re providing the community with the highest care,” Westerman said.
“Brandon has worked very hard on this,” Fire Chief Bill Moorman said. “I’m very proud of everyone. They do a fantastic job.”
