Saratoga Hospital Recognized for Heart Attack Care; Receives 2020 Lifeline Gold Award from American Heart Association

SARATOGA SPRINGS — For the second year in a row, Saratoga Hospital has received the Mission: Lifeline Gold Receiving Achievement Award for heart attack care.

Presented by the American Heart Association, the award recognizes that Saratoga Hospital meets the latest evidence-based guidelines for treating patients with the deadliest type of heart attack—an ST elevation myocardial infarction or STEMI.

A STEMI is caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart. To prevent death, blood flow must be restored as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or providing clot-busting medication.

“For STEMI patients, every second counts, so our interventional cardiology team continually seeks ways to streamline our processes and speed treatment,” said Jeffrey Winacott, administrative director of Saratoga Hospital’s cardiovascular service line. “With our partners in the field, we monitor response times and put the Mission: Lifeline guidelines to work to save lives and help ensure the best possible long-term outcomes.”

The goal of the Mission: Lifeline program is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, from the 911 call and emergency medical services transport through hospital treatment and discharge. Saratoga Hospital earned the program’s Gold award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick, appropriate STEMI treatment.

The hospital launched its 24/7 emergency interventional cardiology program in 2017 and was recognized with a Mission: Lifeline Silver award in 2018. Last year, the program earned its first Gold award.