Vidant Medical Center Receives Lifeline STEMI, NSTEMI Awards from American Heart Association | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Greenville, N.C.     For the second consecutive year, Vidant Medical Center (VMC) has received the Mission: Lifeline® Gold STEMI Receiving Center Quality Achievement Award and the NSTEMI Gold Quality Achievement Award for implementing the most up-to-date evidence-based treatments to improve patient care and outcomes for those suffering life-threatening heart attacks in eastern North Carolina.

    "These awards highlight the importance of our system-of-care, which is saving the lives of those we love and serve," said Rony Shammas, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FASNC, FASE, medical director of Chest Pain and STEMI Program for Vidant Health. "Vidant understands the challenges of serving a vast, rural population and we have worked tirelessly to bring high-quality care to the people of eastern North Carolina."

    VMC earned the Mission: Lifeline® Gold Receiving Quality 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 from all over eastern North Carolina despite the unique and challenging nature of the area and the vast geographical region we serve.

    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. It is critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible (usually within 90 minutes from onset of symptoms), either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or, when appropriate, by providing clot-busting medication for those presenting to a regional hospital followed by prompt transfer to our facility.

    This award underscores the close collaboration and coordination between Vidant's system-of-care, regional hospitals, EMS and transport personnel.

    "I am proud of cardiovascular teams both in the region and at Vidant Medical Center, as well as our EMS team members," said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO, Vidant Health. "Their collaboration and commitment has helped further our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina."

    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.

• Contact: Brian Wudkwych
•     brian.wudkwych@vidanthealth.com