MRHC Recognized for Stroke and Heart Attack Care
August 9, 2019 11:21 am
Magnolia Regional Health Center (MRHC) has once again been recognized with a trio of quality achievement awards for excellence in stroke and heart attack care.
The American Stroke Association and American Heart Association recently announced that MRHC had received the American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke BRONZE and SILVER Quality Achievement Awards and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Award.
The American Stroke Association recognizes MRHC’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
“I am very proud of the work that our organization has put in for the growth of our stroke program,” said Sonya Collums, BSN, RN, Trauma and Stroke Program Manager at MRHC. “We have a great team of doctors, nurses, paramedics and ancillary staff that take very good care of our patients, working to get them the right treatment at the right time and provide them with the best care after having a stroke.”
Magnolia Regional Health Center earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
(Pictured to L to R:) Stacie Mitchell, Director of Nursing; Allison Trim, RN; Kayla Stutts, Radiology Technologist (CT); Courtney Smith, Stroke Registrar; Sonya Collums, Trauma Program Coordinator; Dr. Sahar Jahan, Internal Medicine Resident; Dr. Hayes Baker, Internal Medicine Program Director; Dr. Peyton Preece, Internal Medicine Associate Program Director.
MRHC also received is the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Award. 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.
“Magnolia Regional Health Center is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Mike Lutz, Director of EMS at MRHC. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care efforts through Mission: Lifeline.”
The Mission: Lifeline initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the medical center and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.
“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. We applaud Magnolia Regional Health Center for achieving this award in following evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”
(Pictured L to R:) Dr. Japheth Baker, Emergency Medicine Physician and Paramedic; Tyler Peters, Paramedic; Heath Pannell, Paramedic; Rusty Purvis, Paramedic; Mike Lutz, Director of EMS at MRHC; Robbie Harris, Paramedic; Chris Woodruff, Paramedic
“These awards are evidence that the people who work on these projects at MRHC are devoted to our community and are always willing to go beyond what is required to ensure that our patients receive the best care available,” said Dr. James Gilmore, Chief Medical Officer and Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon at MRHC. “Our institution is extremely proud of the innovation, dedication, and teamwork that went into earning this well-deserved recognition in the care of strokes and heart attacks. We are fortunate to have such a talented group of providers and staff at our hospital.”
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.
This post was written by Magnolia Regional Health Center
