Waterbury Hospital Receives Lifeline® Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information
Aug. 21, 2020 Contact: Lauresha Xhihani
203.573.6717
WATERBURY, Aug. 21, 2020 ― Waterbury Hospital has received the 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.
Waterbury Hospital earned the 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.
“Waterbury Hospital is dedicated to providing state of the art care for heart attack patients,” said Waterbury Hospital President and CEO Lester Schindel. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care through American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline program.”
“We commend Waterbury Hospital for this award 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.”
About Waterbury HEALTH
Waterbury HEALTH which includes Waterbury Hospital, Alliance Medical Group, Cardiology Associates, VNA Health at Home, Greater Waterbury Imaging Center and Access Rehab Centers, offers comprehensive healthcare services including primary care, emergency and acute care, and home healthcare. Serving Waterbury and 11 surrounding communities in Western Connecticut, Waterbury HEALTH is a member of Prospect Medical Holdings Inc., a national family of hospitals and healthcare networks.
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.