Baylor Grapevine is tapped for quality achievement award

Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine has received the Mission: Lifeline Silver Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks.

Each year in the United States, according to Baylor, about 250,000 people have a STEMI, or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment.

To prevent death, it’s critical to immediately restore blood flow, either by surgically opening the blocked vessel or by giving a clot-busting medication, according to Baylor.

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 and continuing through hospital treatment.

“Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our patients who suffer a heart attack,” Steven R. Newton, West Region president at Baylor Scott & White Health, said in a news release. “We are pleased to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care and I am very proud of our team.”

In addition to receiving the Mission: Lifeline Silver Receiving Quality Award, Baylor Grapevine has been recognized as a recipient of Mission: Lifeline Silver-Plus award, which recognized the hospital has reached an achievement score of 75 percent or greater for treating STEMI transfer patients within 120 minutes.

“We commend Baylor Grapevine for this achievement award, which reflects a significant institutional commitment to the highest quality of care for its heart attack patients,” Dr. James G. Jollis, chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group and President of the North Carolina Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, said in a news release. “Achieving this award means the hospital has met specific reporting and achievement measures for the treatment of its patients who suffer heart attacks and we applaud them for their commitment to quality and timely care."

Baylor Grapevine earned the award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment of STEMI patients by providing emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries when needed.

Eligible hospitals must adhere to these measures at a set level for a designated period to get the awards.

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.

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 12:35 PM with the headline "Baylor Grapevine is tapped for quality achievement award."