Receives Award for Fourth Year in a Row
The American Heart Association (AHA) has recognized Harnett County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with the AHA Mission Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks. This is the fourth year in a row Harnett County EMS has received this award.
“Harnett County EMS System is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Emergency Services Director Larry Smith. “This award is the direct reflection of our entire EMS Staff. We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care efforts through Mission Lifeline.”
The American Heart Association’s Mission Lifeline program awards EMS agencies who perform advanced lifesaving skills to heart attack patients. EMS agencies who perform 12-lead ECGs measure the electrical activity of the heart and can help determine if a heart attack has occurred. They also follow protocols derived from American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. These correct tools, training, and practices allow EMS providers to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the receiving medical center, and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.
American Heart Association’s Mission Lifeline’s highest award available for EMS Agencies is the EMS Gold Performance Award and is based on meeting the achievement measures aggregated annually for two years with no single measure scoring below 75 percent. This year’s Mission Lifeline Award also recognizes EMS agencies with a Plus measure for agencies who obtain 12-Lead ECGs within 10 minutes of making patient contact.
