UnityPoint Health - Trinity Regional Medical Center Among Nation's Top Performing Hospitals for Treatment of Heart Attack Patients

Fort Dodge, October 21, 2021 – UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center has received three awards for its outstanding cardiology services by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

Trinity received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain - MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2021. Trinity is one of only 212 hospitals nationwide to receive this honor. They also received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Receiving Hospital – Gold Plus and Mission: Lifeline NStemi – Bronze Achievement Awards for implementation of quality care for severe heart attack patients.

“Receiving these three high level awards truly attests to the quality and expertise our cardiac team brings to this community,” states Leah Glasgo, CEO and President of UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge. “And I use the term ‘team’ to the fullest extent. The success of our heart program begins with our local EMS providing expert care on site with a patient, then transmitting the patient’s status ahead of arrival so that our emergency and cardiac teams, including the Iowa Heart specialists, are ready and waiting with time sensitive care. It also includes our amazing cardiac rehab team ensuring patients receive the follow-up care and education needed to continue to live full healthy lives. It’s not just one department, its all of them working together to bring the best care and outcome for each patient.”

All three awards recognize Trinity’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that Trinity has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

To receive the Chest Pain - MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, Trinity has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain - MI Registry for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020), and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. As a Platinum Performance Award recipient, Trinity has established itself as a leader in setting the national standard for improving quality of care in patients with acute myocardial infarction. By meeting the award requirements set forth in the registry, Trinity demonstrated a commitment to providing reliable, comprehensive treatment for heart attack patients based on current clinical guidelines.

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 at the individual hospital, EMS and system level.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that almost 700,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. While no one plans on having a heart attack, it unfortunately happens. Which is why having a local hospital that is equipped and dedicated to providing quick and appropriate treatment for heart attack patients is not only nice, it’s crucial.