Main Line Health hospitals honored by American Heart Association for treatment of a severe type of heart attack

Main Line Health facilities

Bryn Mawr, PAMain Line Health's acute care hospitals have been honored by the American Heart Association's (AHA) Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Center and Main Line Health's EMS team, based at Riddle Hospital, received the Mission: Lifeline® EMS award for excellence in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) — a type of heart attack with high risk of serious complications and death.

Lankenau Medical Center and Riddle Hospital received the AHA's Mission Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus award, and Bryn Mawr Hospital and Paoli Hospital were honored with the Gold award for offering the highest quality of rapid, research-based care. Main Line Health's EMS team, based at Riddle Hospital, received the Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold award and the Mission: Lifeline® System of Care Target Heart Attack award, which focuses on the system of care for patients.

Each year, about 285,000 people in the United States experience a STEMI heart attack, caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery. Nearly 40% of people who go to the emergency room with acute coronary syndrome are diagnosed with STEMI. Like all heart attacks, it requires timely treatment to restore blood flow as quickly as possible.

"Main Line Health is dedicated to top-of-the-line cardiovascular care, so this recognition from the American Heart Association is particularly meaningful," said Jack Lynch, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Main Line Health. "Our patients count on us to deliver quick, lifesaving care based on research and evidence. I'm proud of our entire team and all of the first responders for their efforts and pledge to continue delivering the finest in safe, high-quality treatment."

William Gray, MD, system chief of cardiovascular diseases at Main Line Health and co-director of Lankenau Heart Institute, said participation in the AHA's Mission: Lifeline program brings a set of guidelines to STEMI treatment that is proven effective and reliable.

"Time is of the essence when patients come to us with heart attacks," Dr. Gray said. "It's the job of the cardiovascular team to move quickly to provide the appropriate intervention to restore blood flow in the blocked artery causing the problem. We are committed to collecting and reporting our data in support of the principles of the AHA's Mission: Lifeline program because they help us accomplish our goal to continuously improve care for our community."

Robert P. Girardeau, MSM-HCA, FP-C, system director, prehospital services and emergency medical services, mobile integrated health care and patient transportation services at Main Line Health, said the EMS award is important recognition, highlighting the EMS team's collaboration with hospitals.

"EMTs and paramedics are often the ones who are the first medical point of contact, providing critical care in those first crucial minutes," he said. "Once the team recognizes a STEMI heart attack in a patient, they can activate the emergency response system from a patient's living room or wherever the patient may be. This activation alerts hospitals to an incoming heart attack patient and allows physicians and staff to prepare for the patient's arrival, expediting lifesaving care by 15 or more minutes."

Recognition as a Mission: Lifeline Receiving Center is designed to showcase hospitals that provide 24/7 support for STEMI. These facilities coordinate with a network of referring hospitals and emergency medical services to provide guideline-directed STEMI and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction care.

About Main Line Health

Founded in 1985, Main Line Health is a not-for-profit health system serving Philadelphia and its suburbs. Main Line Health's commitment — to deliver safe, high-quality, equitable and affordable care for treating and curing disease, playing an important role in prevention and disease management, as well as training physicians and other health care providers — reflects our intent to be the region's premier choice for clinical care, research, and education. A team of more than 13,000 employees and over 2,100 employed and independent physicians and advanced practice providers care for patients throughout Main Line Health.

At Main Line Health's core are four of the region's most respected acute care hospitals — Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital — as well as one of the nation's premier facilities for rehabilitative medicine, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital.

Main Line Health also includes Mirmont Treatment Center for drug and alcohol recovery; Main Line Health HomeCare & Hospice, which includes skilled home health care, hospice and home infusion services; Main Line Health Centers, primary and specialty care, lab and radiology, and other outpatient services located in Broomall, Collegeville, Concordville, Exton, King of Prussia and Newtown Square; Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, a biomedical research organization; and Main Line HealthCare, one of the region's largest multispecialty physician networks.

Main Line Health is the recipient of numerous awards for quality care and service, including the prestigious American Hospital Association Quest for Quality Prize, highest tier ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for Overall Hospital Quality and systemwide recognition in the 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Main Line Health is committed to creating an environment of diversity, respect, equity and inclusion, has proudly received awards in this area and has embraced the American Hospital Association's #123forEquity Pledge to Act to eliminate disparities in care. We are dedicated to advancing patient-centered care, education and research to help patients stay healthy and live their best lives.

For more information, visit mainlinehealth.org and connect with us on social media:

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Contact

Larry Hanover
Communications Manager
Office: 484.580.1186
[email protected]