FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2020
Saratoga Hospital Recognized for Heart Attack Care
Receives 2020 Mission: Lifeline Gold Award from American Heart Association
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., August 24, 2020—For the second year in a row, Saratoga Hospital has received the Mission: Lifeline Gold Receiving Achievement Award for heart attack care.
Presented by the American Heart Association, the award recognizes that Saratoga Hospital meets the latest evidence-based guidelines .png)
for treating patients with the deadliest type of heart attack—an ST elevation myocardial infarction or STEMI.
A STEMI is caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart. To prevent death, blood flow must be restored as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or providing clot-busting medication.
“For STEMI patients, every second counts, so our interventional cardiology team continually seeks ways to streamline our processes and speed treatment,” said Jeffrey Winacott, administrative director of Saratoga Hospital’s cardiovascular service line. “With our partners in the field, we monitor response times and put the Mission: Lifeline guidelines to work to save lives and help ensure the best possible long-term outcomes.”
The goal of the Mission: Lifeline program is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, from the 911 call and emergency medical services transport through hospital treatment and discharge. Saratoga Hospital earned the program’s Gold award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick, appropriate STEMI treatment.
The hospital launched its 24/7 emergency interventional cardiology program in 2017 and was recognized with a Mission: Lifeline Silver award in 2018. Last year, the program earned its first Gold award.
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About Saratoga Hospital: Saratoga Hospital is the Saratoga region’s leading healthcare provider and the only acute-care facility in Saratoga County. The hospital’s multispecialty practice, Saratoga Hospital Medical Group, provides care at more than 20 locations, ensuring easy access to programs and services that can have the greatest impact on individual and community health. Saratoga Hospital has maintained Magnet designation for nursing excellence since 2004. The hospital is an affiliate of the Albany Med Health System, which also includes Albany Med, Columbia Memorial Health and Glens Falls Hospital. The region’s largest locally governed health system, it has 1,520 beds, more than 800 physicians and 125 outpatient locations. For more information: www.saratogahospital.org or www.facebook.com/SaratogaHospital.
About Mission: Lifeline
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for STEMI patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit heart.org.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter M. Hopper
Director, Marketing and Communications
518-583-8679
phopper@saratogahospital.org