(Camden, NJ) — Cooper University Health Care has received the Mission: Lifeline® Silver 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.
Cooper 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.
“Cooper is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients and continues to offer the most advanced treatment options to our patients,” said Philip A. Koren, MD, FACC, FSCAI, medical director of the Cooper Heart Institute. “We are very honored to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care through Mission: Lifeline.”
The Cooper Heart Institute is the most comprehensive heart care center in southern New Jersey, earning national recognition for its superior quality and world-renowned team of cardiovascular experts. At Cooper, patients have access to a full spectrum of heart care from prevention and diagnosis to cutting-edge technology and innovative treatment.
In 2018, Cooper and Inspira Health Network formed a joint venture to integrate cardiac services. Cardiac Partners at Cooper and Inspira, provides patients in the South Jersey region with access to more coordinated cardiac services across the continuum of care. For more information about Cardiac Partners visit https://www.cardiacpartners.org/.
“We commend Cooper 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 Cooper University Health Care
Cooper University Health Care is a leading academic health system and the only state-designated Level 1 Trauma Center in South Jersey. Cooper’s mission is to serve, to heal, and to educate. Annually, nearly two million patients visit Cooper’s 750-plus physicians practicing in 75 specialties at more than 100 convenient medical offices and three urgent care centers. The Cooper Health Sciences campus is home to Cooper University Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Visit CooperHealth.org to learn more.
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.
Media Inquiries:
Wendy A. Marano
856.904.1688
marano-wendy@cooperhealth.edu