Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Receives Mission: Lifeline Honors

When it comes to a heart attack, seconds matter. A quick assessment and proper treatment are essential to a patient’s survival.

For their quick and appropriate treatment of heart attack patients, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital has been recognized by the American Heart Association as the recipient of its Mission: Lifeline^® NSTEMI Silver Quality Achievement Award and Mission: Lifeline STEMI Receiving Center Quality Achievement – Silver Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association for the treatment of patients who suffer heart attacks.

Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital is the first health care facility in Council Bluffs to earn these recognitions.

A celebration and official presentation of the awards by the American Heart Association is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 29 from 3 to 4:30, near the cardiac area in the emergency department. Emergency Medical Service providers and outreach clinic site representatives will be on hand, and tours of the cardiac catheterization labs and cardiac unit will be available.

“Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our patients who suffer a heart attack, and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that goal through nationally respected clinical guidelines,” said Thomas Brandt, MD, cardiologist at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care, and I am very proud of our team.”

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program’s goal is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, from the 911 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.

Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital earned the awards by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment of NSTEMI and STEMI heart attack patients by providing emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries when needed.

“We commend Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital for this award in recognition for following evidence-based guidelines for timely heart attack treatment,” said Tim Henry, MD, 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.”