Metroplex Adventist Hospital honored by the American Heart Association

For the second year in a row, Metroplex Adventist Hospital has received the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes hospitals for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks. This achievement is the third Mission: Lifeline award for Metroplex since 2016.

'We are honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for the third year in a row,' said Valerie Romero, director of the Cath Lab at Metroplex. 'Our mission at Metroplex is Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ. The way we do that in the Heart and Vascular Center is to bring state-of-the-art heart care to the citizens of our community.'

The American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline program's goal is to reduce barriers when it comes to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 911 call and continuing through hospital treatment. STEMI, or ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, is the deadliest type of heart attack. It is caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart and requires timely treatment. It's critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible. This can be done by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication, to prevent death.

'When it comes to treating a heart attack, time is muscle,' said Umad Ahmad, MD, medical director for the Heart and Vascular Center at Metroplex. 'By following the evidence-based guidelines used in the Mission: Lifeline program, we are ensuring our patients have the best possible outcomes on their path to healing.'

'We commend Metroplex Adventist Hospital for this achievement award. It reflects a significant institutional commitment to the highest quality of care for their heart attack patients,' said James G. Jollis, MD, Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group. 'This award recognizes that the hospital has met specific reporting and achievement measures for the treatment of their patients who suffer heart attacks. For this, we applaud them.'