Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center Receives American Heart Association Accreditation for Acute Cardiac Care

PRESS RELEASE

ALBUQUERQUE — August 7, 2015 -- Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Heart Attack Receiving Center Accreditation.

The accreditation program — sponsored by the American Heart Association and the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care —recognizes centers that meet or exceed quality of care measures for people experiencing the most severe type of heart attack, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), in which blood flow is completely blocked to a portion of the heart.

Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center underwent numerous on-site reviews by accreditation specialists from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. Key areas in which Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center demonstrated exceptional quality of care to receive accreditation include:

• A strong relationship between the EMS providers and the current Chest Pain Center Team
• Bypassing the Emergency Department with STEMI patients and taking them straight into the catheter lab for treatment
• An incredibly strong community education and support program

As a result, Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center will display the American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline ® Heart Attack Receiving Center Accreditation certification mark.

“Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center is thoroughly committed to providing our patients the highest quality cardiac care centered on current scientific research,” said Troy Greer, CEO of Lovelace Medical Center. “The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® Heart Attack Receiving Center Accreditation has highlighted our accomplishments and will improve the overall treatment and care for our patients.”

Through its accreditation program, the American Heart Association hopes to significantly reduce cardiac death by teaching the public to recognize and react to early symptoms of a heart attack, reduce the time it takes to receive lifesaving treatment and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment administered.

The American Heart Association’s overall goal for Mission: Lifeline Heart Attack Receiving Center Accreditation is to significantly reduce cardiac death in patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to early symptoms of a heart attack, reduce the time it takes to receive life-saving treatment and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment administered.

For more information on the American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline Heart Attack Receiving Center Accreditation, visit www.heart.org/missionlifeline or www.scpcp.org.