South Shore Hospital and South Shore EMS recognized with Mission: Lifeline® Gold Quality Achievement Awards

South Shore Hospital and South Shore Emergency Medical Services (EMS), part of South Shore Health, have received the Mission: Lifeline® Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks.

“We are very pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care through these Mission: Lifeline® Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Awards said Interim President & CEO, Rose Di Pietro. “Our health system is home to Southeastern Massachusetts’ only hospital with 24-hour access to primary angioplasty, a life-saving treatment, and the region’s busiest cardiac catheterization lab. It is led by a team of more than 30 of the region’s most experienced cardiologists, radiologists and vascular surgeons.” 

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience the deadliest type of heart attack, (an ST elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI), caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication. 

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program’s goal is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 9-1-1 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. 

“This award is an honor and exemplifies the unified work at South Shore Health. Our EMS staff is constantly working with the hospital staff to ensure the wellbeing of any patient dealing with heart complications,” said Eugene Duffy, head of EMS at South Shore Health.

“Serving the community is our main focus and both of these entities have displayed incredible care for our patients.”

South Shore Health earned these awards by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick and appropriate treatment through emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries in heart attack patients coming into the hospital directly or by transfer from another facility.

“We commend South Shore Health for these awards in recognition for following evidence-based guidelines for timely heart attack treatment,” said Tim Henry, M.D., 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.”