The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® recognized CHI St. Vincent Infirmary with its Silver Plus Receiving Quality Achievement Award for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks.

“CHI St. Vincent is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Marcia Atkinson, vice president, CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute. “We are pleased to be recognized for our continued dedication to excellence in cardiac care through Mission: Lifeline.”

CHI St. Vincent earned the award for specific quality improvement measures as outlined by the American Heart Association. That includes ongoing improvements to 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.

“We commend CHI St. Vincent 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.”

Every year, more than 250,000 people across the country 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.