TRH nationally recognized for commitment to quality care for heart attacks

Three Rivers Health has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze recognition for its commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing a specific type of heart attack known as an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), known to be more severe and dangerous than other types of heart attacks.

Each year, about 285,000 people in the U.S. experience this type of heart attack, caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery.  Nearly 40% of people who go to the emergency room with acute coronary syndrome are diagnosed with a STEMI. Like all heart attacks, this requires timely treatment to restore blood flow as quickly as possible.

Recognition as a STEMI Referring Center is designed to showcase hospitals of every size on the front lines of care that do not have 24/7 cardiac catheterization lab availability but work in collaboration with emergency medical services to ensure patients receive guideline-directed STEMI and NSTEMI care. 

“Effective and timely care is crucial for patients experiencing a STEMI heart attack. The American Heart Association’s guidelines call for specific interventions for these patients both in-hospital and post-hospitalization,” said Abhinav Goyal, M.D., MHS, FACC, FAHA, American Heart Association volunteer, professor in the Department of Cardiology at Emory School of Medicine with a joint appointment in the Department of Epidemiology and chief quality officer for the Emory Heart and Vascular Center. “Three Rivers Health is among the institutions recognized for their commitment to providing evidence-based STEMI treatment and care coordination, ensuring the best outcomes for these patients.”

The STEMI Referring Center award is earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to getting patients the most up-to-date research-based care for STEMI as outlined by the American Heart Association. 

“Three Rivers Health is dedicated to improving the quality of heart care, and the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program helps us achieve that goal,” said Director of Nursing David Black. “The program puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, so patients have the best possible chance of survival