emsappreciation. ST

LUKE'S

St. Luke’s University Health Network recognizes the importance of EMS professionals and partners and how they contribute to the care of the Acute Coronary Syndrome population. In addition to EMS recognition events that SLUHN provides, the Heart and Vascular service line gives out their Annual “Golden Sneaker Award.”

This award is given to the EMS team or squad that participates in the fastest “door to balloon time” for STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction). This year’s award was presented to The Pocono Mountain Regional EMS (PMREMS) crew at EMS Night at the May 26th Iron Pigs Ball game, for identifying that a patient was having a STEMI (heart attack) and alerting the receiving hospital.

STEMI is a type of heart attack that is more serious and has a greater risk of complications and death. It gets it’s name from how it mainly affects the heart’s lower chambers and changes how electrical current travels through them. EMS professionals are taught to recognize this potentially fatal type of heart attack with an electrocardiogram performed on arrival to patients experiencing chest pain. Once recognized they call ahead to the Primary PCI center; a hospital with a cath lab that can provide the emergency procedure to open the blocked coronary artery.

Heart Attacks are still the leading cause of death in the United States. St. Luke’s is always looking to improve the care delivered, and partnering with the EMS community is crucial to improving patient outcomes. The best treatment times are generated when EMS is called to start the care process. St Luke's is grateful for their dedication and expertise.