Sinai Hospital Earns National Recognition for Efforts to Improve STEMI treatment
Baltimore, MD "” Sinai Hospital of Baltimore has received the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline® NSTEMI, Gold Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks more efficiently and rapidly.
Each year more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it is critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication. 
"Sinai Hospital is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to helping our patients have the best possible chance of survival and after a STEMI," says Daniel Blum, president of Sinai Hospital and Grace Medical Center. "The Mission: Lifeline program helps our integrated teams put proven knowledge and guidelines and guidelines to work on a daily basis to improve outcomes for STEMI patients." Blum is also senior vice president at LifeBridge Health.
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.
"When someone experiences a STEMI heart attack, time is critical to survival," said Alice Jacobs, Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Chair, GWTG-CAD Systems of Care Advisory Work Group. "Patients have the best chance of survival when EMS systems and hospitals are coordinated and integrated in their approach to treating STEMI -- because every second counts."
Program participants apply for award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care for STEMI patients.
About Sinai Hospital:
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore is a 483-bed medical complex located in northwest Baltimore. Sinai Hospital is Maryland's largest community hospital and third largest teaching hospital. Founded in 1866 as the Hebrew Hospital and Asylum, Sinai Hospital is a nonprofit healthcare organization with a mission of providing high-quality, compassionate patient care. Medical specialties include cardiology, orthopedics, neurology and pediatrics. For more information, visit http://www.lifebridgehealth.org/Sinai
About Mission: Lifeline
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. For more information, visit