Durham Reporter

Durham County Office of Emergency Services issued the following announcement on Sep 11. 

The (OES) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Achievement Award for a fourth consecutive year for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks.  

OES Director Jim Groves shared that “Every member of our EMS Division works tirelessly to provide the most clinically appropriate pre-hospital care for our community, and receiving this award speaks volumes about their dedication and effort.”

When asked about the national recognition, EMS Chief Paramedic Mark Lockhart expressed how pleased he is to represent an award-winning team. “We are honored by the American Heart Association’s recognition of the amazing care provided by our first responders, EMTs, and paramedics,” Lockhart said. “Durham County can be proud of the amazing women and men who provide such exceptional care. 

Each 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 is 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 helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks – starting from when 9-1-1 is called, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. Optimal care for heart attack patients takes coordination between the individual hospital, EMS and healthcare system. 

“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said Tim Henry, M.D., chair of the Mission: Lifeline Acute Coronary Syndrome Subcommittee. “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.” 

For more information about this award or Durham County EMS, email EMS Chief Mark Lockhart at jlockhart@dconc.gov.

 Original source can be found here.