St. Charles County Ambulance District paramedics recently were recognized at the highest possible level by the American Heart Association, which released its annual list of Mission: Lifeline honorees. SCCAD was also named to the Target: Heart Attack Honor roll.
Each year, more than 250,000 individuals experience a ST elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI], a deadly 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. Unfortunately, a significant number of these patients don’t receive this prompt attention.
The correct tools, training and practices allow SCCAD paramedics to rapidly treat these patients and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel. Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Gold award demonstrated compliance for each of four required cardiac achievement measures, and two stroke reporting measures. The Honor Roll distinction reflects that paramedics are consistently performing a 12-lead ECG on patients within 10 minutes on chest pain calls. 2024 marks SCCAD’s eighth Gold-level recognition, and its eleventh overall appearance on the Mission: Lifeline honoree list.
“SCCAD paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who experience significant medical emergencies in our community,” said SCCAD Chief Kelly Cope. “As the first medical point of contact, they perform life-saving interventions and shave precious minutes of treatment time off by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals.”
SCCAD paramedics and leadership staff are elated to be recognized at this high level but highlight the fact that collaborative relationships make it possible.
“We convene regularly with our partners at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters, Progress West, SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital St. Charles and SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital Lake St. Louis to develop protocols with the goal of improving the quality of care for stroke and STEMI patients,” said John Romeo, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for SCCAD.
Cardiac care has been a long-term area of focus for SCCAD; the agency was among the first in the nation to implement cardio-cerebral resuscitation protocols in 2015, and continues to provide intensive, annual training to paramedics and firefighters on said protocols. In addition, the District has made several investments in cardiac-centric life-saving equipment in recent years thanks to residents overwhelming support of Proposition Ambulance, a $70-million general obligation bond issue in 2018.
