posted February 15, 2024

February is American Heart Month, a month dedicated to promoting heart health and recommitting to our cardiovascular wellbeing. We also acknowledge pivotal programs like Mission: Lifeline^®, a national American Heart Association initiative. Their goal is to revolutionize the system of care for patients facing critical heart-related emergencies. Mission: Lifeline® unites healthcare professionals and stakeholders to significantly raise survival rates and improve the quality of care for patients being treated for cardiac events. Their recognition system is well known throughout the country and celebrates hospitals and EMS agencies that consistently excel in timely, evidence-based care for acute heart conditions.

“Mission: Lifeline® gives us a roadmap best practices to deliver the best possible patient outcomes of STEMI and Stroke care.  Air Methods provides our hospital and EMS partners a means to provide rapid and highly acute patient transport in order for them to obtain Bronze, Silver and even Gold recognition.” said Air Methods VP of Clinical Services, Kelly Miller.

At Air Methods, we are proud to play a key role in this life-saving initiative by providing indispensable support through:

• Early Activation Policy: Our collaboration with 911 centers allows for helicopters to be placed on standby during initial emergency calls, ensuring rapid deployment when first responders request our launch to the scene.

• Interfacility Early Activation Policy: Hospitals can contact their local air medical service on-demand and have a helicopter arrive at the hospital while essential tests and acceptance at the receiving facility are being arranged.

• Consultation Services: Our account executives are on hand to aid in the critical decision-making process, evaluating the most efficient transfer method, whether by ground or air, to ensure STEMI patients receive care within the golden hour.

• Fast Request Methods: Through tools like the Early Activation Button, Direct Dial Phone, and the Air Com App, we’ve streamlined the process of summoning air medical assistance, making it a swift and seamless action.

• Clinical Coordination: Our on-board flight nurses and paramedics are equipped to transport patients requiring post-fibrinolytic care, ensuring continuous treatment during transfers.

“Time equals muscle for our STEMI patients and brain for our Stroke patients,” Kelly explains. “Air medical transport, when activated early, will improve patient outcomes and save lives.”

Air Methods is dedicated to assisting EMS and hospital personnel in delivering the highest standard of patient care possible. Our air medical services directly impact the AHAEMS8, AHACAD9, and AHACAD23 recognition criteria across EMS, Receiving Center, and Referring Hospital programs. View the criteria here. If you are interested in partnering with Air Methods to increase quality of care and potentially receive Mission: Lifeline® recognition, click here and your local Air Methods representative will get in touch.

Concepts, research, and solutions pertaining to this article were contributed to by Aidan O’Connor, NR-P, FP-C, Regional Sales Director at Air Methods, and William Kelly Miller, Vice President of Clinical Services at Air Methods.