Forrest General Receives Award for Quality Treatment of Heart Attack Patients

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – (July 22, 2020) Forrest General Hospital has received the 2020 Mission: Lifeline^® Gold Plus Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks.

Every 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’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication. 

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program’s goal is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 9-1-1 call, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. The initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines. 

Forrest General earned the award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick and appropriate treatment through emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries in heart attack patients coming into the hospital directly or by transfer from another facility.

“Forrest General is dedicated to our mission to do what is best for our patients. This means providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Millie Swan, vice president. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care through Mission: Lifeline.”

“We commend Forrest General for this award in recognition for following evidence-based guidelines for timely heart attack treatment,” said Tim Henry, M.D., chair of the Mission: Lifeline Acute Coronary Syndrome Subcommittee.“We applaud the significant institutional commitment to their critical role in the system of care for quickly and appropriately treating heart attack patients.”

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About Forrest General’s Cardiac Services

Forrest General’s Heart and Vascular Services delivers expert care from board-certified cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and vascular surgeons. Services range from diagnostic testing, heart surgery and structural heart treatment to Interventional cardiology, Cardiac rehabilitation and Vascular treatment. To learn more about services, advanced treatment options or heart disease risks, signs and symptoms, visit www.forrestgeneral.com/heart.

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 heart.org.