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(MINOT, ND) – Trinity Health has been recognized by the American Heart Association for exceptional performance in caring for people with STEMI heart attacks ñ the kind caused by a sudden blockage of a coronary artery.

Trinity earned the ‘Mission: Lifeline® Silver Receiving Quality Achievement Award’ for consistently carrying out practices that are most effective when it comes to quickly identifying STEMI heart attacks and streamlining processes to promote rapid treatment.

‘We commend Trinity for this achievement award, which reflects a significant institutional commitment to the highest quality of care for their heart attack patients,’ said James G. Jollis, MD, Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group and President of the North Caroline Chapter of the American College of Cardiology.

Each year in the U.S., approximately 250,000 people have a STEMI, or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart, according to the AHA. To prevent death, it’s critical to immediately restore blood flow, either by opening the blocked vessel with interventional cardiology or by giving clot-busting medication.

Trinity Health earned the silver award by meeting specific criteria over a designated period of time, including administering therapeutic drugs at critical junctures during a patient’s care and shortening ‘door-to-balloon’ times ñ the interval between the patient arriving at the hospital and the moment the artery is reopened through coronary intervention via balloon angioplasty.

‘We’re pleased to be recognized for our achievements in cardiac care,’ said Jeffrey Sather, MD, medical director of Trinity’s Emergency/Trauma Center and Chief of the Department of Medicine. ‘We were the first region in the state to create a STEMI network. I’m very proud, not only of our team here at Trinity, but of our EMS partners all across the region. Together we’ve been able to save lives.’