Sioux City Fire Rescue has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.  Gold Plus is the highest level of achievement for the award.  Sioux City is one of four other cities in Iowa to receive recognition.

Every year more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack 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 Mission: Lifeline initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the medical center and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel. 

“Currently both hospitals and Sioux City Fire Rescue are Gold Standard providers for heart attack care, which should be a relief to those who need us,” said EMS Training Officer, Terry Ragaller. “This was accomplished due to dedication, hard work and a desire to always improve the medical care from our EMTs and Paramedics. We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care efforts through Mission: Lifeline.”   

Tim Henry, M.D., Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Acute Coronary Syndrome Subcommittee, shared, “EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks. Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can save precious minutes of treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals to an incoming heart attack patient. We applaud Sioux City Fire Rescue for achieving this award in following evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”