Maury Regional Health’s (MRH) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has received the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Mission: Lifeline EMS® Silver achievement award for its commitment to offering rapid and research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of heart attacks and strokes, ultimately saving lives.
Mission: Lifeline EMS® is the AHA’s national initiative to advance the system of care for patients with high-risk, time-sensitive disease states, such as severe heart attacks and strokes.
This recognition program evaluates EMS agencies for their use of evidence-based treatment guidelines to improve care and outcomes. The Silver level awards agencies that meet certain criteria for 12 consecutive months, which includes actively submitting data to the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR), positive performance achievement measurements, consistency in quality of care, following proper protocols and procedures and ongoing quality improvement initiatives.
“Maury Regional Health EMS is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “This is all thanks to our dedicated and highly trained EMS teams utilizing the latest life-saving technology and care techniques. Everything we do is driven by our mission to serve and support the health and wellness of our community, ensuring that every patient receives the best possible care — from ambulance to hospital and back home.”
EMS staff can begin treatment when they arrive — much sooner than if someone goes to the hospital by car. This department plays a vital role in the early identification and stabilization of conditions and performing critical prehospital interventions that set the stage for effective treatment. Additionally, MRH’s EMS staff have technology that shares data with the emergency room (ER) before they arrive which allows for smooth and efficient transitions into hospital care. Overall, EMS teams ensure that patients receive timely and definitive therapies, which are essential for achieving optimal outcomes and maximizing quality of life.
The acronym F.A.S.T. can be used to help recall common signs of a stroke. ‘F’ is for face drooping, ‘A’ is for arm weakness, ‘S’ is for speech difficulty and ‘T’ is for time to call 911. Other symptoms include confusion, dizziness, severe headaches and trouble with your eyes.
Heart attack symptoms vary from person to person, but men will generally experience chest pain or discomfort, general pain that radiates to arms, back, neck, jaw or arms, shortness of breath, cold sweat, heart burn, sudden dizziness and heartburn. Women have similar issues yet tend to experience more arm or jaw pain than in the chest.
If you or someone is experiencing these symptoms, take action by calling 911, noting the time that the symptoms started and, if possible, chewing an aspirin to prevent blood clotting. Acting quickly has a significant impact on outcomes for both stroke and heart attack.
To learn more about Emergency Medical Services, visit MauryRegional.com/EMS.
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