Ill./Iowa health care system awarded grant for cardiac arrest care

By EMS1 Staff

MOLINE, Ill. — UnityPoint Health – Trinity has been awarded a $105,200 grant from the American Heart Association as part of “Mission: Lifeline”, a community-based initiative aimed at improving the system of care for cardiac arrest patients throughout Iowa, according to a press release.

The grant will allow Trinity to maintain equipment that enables EMS and rural hospitals to transmit EKG information to the emergency department. This tool will give emergency department staff the ability to diagnose a potential STEMI heart attack before the patient even arrives, allowing the hospital to prepare for the care of that patient sooner, saving precious time and heart muscle. Funds will also assist in data collection and standardizing cardiac arrest patient care at Trinity as well as within the region.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans have a ST-elevated myocardial infarction. Currently, around two-thirds of STEMI patients fail to receive the best available treatments to restore blood flow. “Mission: Lifeline” seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate STEMI patients from timely access to appropriate treatments.

“Mission: Lifeline” focuses on improving the system of care for these patients and at the same time improving care for all heart attack patients in the Quad Cities.

“With the tools, education and resources of ‘Mission: Lifeline’, we will have the ability to provide the earliest and most appropriate care for heart attack victims,” said Rick Seidler, president and CEO of UnityPoint Health – Trinity. “Regardless of location, patients in the Quad Cities will receive the same and most advanced STEMI care, meaning better outcomes and more lives saved. Trinity is excited to be a part of this life-saving initiative.” 

In collaboration with stakeholders representing hospitals, individual ambulance services and regional EMS medical directors, the project will enhance many critical elements of an optimal STEMI system of care: a system-wide data tool for quality measurement and improvement; ongoing medical provider training and STEMI education; coordination of protocols for rural EMS and hospital personnel; regional plans for rapid transport of patients; and a public education campaign on heart attack symptoms and the need to call 911.  Funding focused on enhancing rural systems is being awarded for hospitals and ambulance services to enhance 12 lead ECG equipment and training.

The program is made possible by $6.1 million in funding, including a $4.6 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.