Valley Health’s Heart and Vascular Center at Winchester Medical Center
has been recognized for heart attack care, receiving a platinum award
from the American College of Cardiology and a silver award from the American
Heart Association.
The American College of Cardiology GWTG (Get with the Guidelines) Platinum
Performance Achievement Award recognizes WMC’s success implementing
a higher standard of care for heart attack patients, consistently following
treatment guidelines for eight consecutive quarters and meeting a performance
standard of 90 percent for specific measures. WMC has maintained Platinum
Performance recognition since 2011.
The American Heart Association’s 2017 Mission: Lifeline Silver Receiving
Quality Achievement Award recognizes WMC for implementing specific quality
improvement measures in treating patients who suffer severe heart attacks.
Silver Award facilities have followed specific criteria and performance
standards for the quick and appropriate treatment of STEMI patients for
one calendar year. STEMI, or ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction, is a
type of heart attack caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the
heart. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as
quickly as possible, either by surgically opening the blocked vessel or
by giving clot-busting medication.
AHA’s Mission: Lifeline program seeks to save lives by closing the
gaps between the various steps to appropriate treatment -- from the 9-1-1
call to dispatch to ambulance arrival at the Emergency Department to definitive
treatment for restoring blood flow through the heart. WMC collaborates
with local EMS partners in the field to expedite assessment and transport,
with treatment beginning before the patient actually arrives in the Emergency
Department.
In addition to WMC’s Silver award, local EMS partners Frederick County
Fire & Rescue, Warren County Fire & Rescue and Winchester Fire
& Rescue each earned 2017 Mission: Lifeline EMS awards.