American Heart Association recognizes St. Luke's commitment to quality heart care

UnityPoint Health® – St. Luke’s has received the Mission: Lifeline® Gold Plus Receiving Quality Achievement Award and the Mission: Lifeline® NSTEMI Gold 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.

“These awards reflect team work. From first responders and critical-access community hospitals to our St. Luke’s emergency, cardiology, intensive care team members and more – we are all working together to save the hearts of Siouxland,” says Lynn Wold, President and CEO. “It is a great demonstration of dedication to providing quality, lifesaving care for our patients.” 

St. Luke’s earned the 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.

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.

“We commend St. Luke’s for this award 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.”