American Heart Association Recognizes Texas Health HEB
for Treatment of Heart Attack Patients

BEDFORD, TEXAS, June 30, 2015 – Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford has earned the Mission: Lifeline^® Gold Plus 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.

Each year in the U.S., approximately 250,000 people have a STEMI, or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, caused by blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires time-sensitive treatment. To prevent loss of life, it’s critical to immediately restore blood flow, either by surgically opening the blocked vessel or by giving clot-busting medication.

Texas Health HEB earned the award by meeting rigorous criteria for two consecutive years. The “Plus” designation is used to differentiate those facilities where at least 75 percent of STEMI patients were transferred to them for primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) in 120 minutes or less. When it can be performed in a timely fashion, Primary PCI is the American Heart Association’s recommended triage strategy for STEMI patients.

“At Texas Health HEB, we are dedicated to improving the quality of care for our patients who suffer a heart attack, and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that goal through internationally respected clinical guidelines,” said Susann Land, M.D., hospital chief medical officer. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care, and I am very proud of our team.”

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program helps hospitals, emergency medical services and communities improve response times so people who suffer from a STEMI receive prompt, appropriate treatment. The program’s goal is to streamline systems of care to quickly get heart attack patients from the first 9-1-1 call to hospital treatment.

Along with Texas Health HEB, Texas Health Resources hospitals in Arlington, Dallas and Fort Worth earned recognition.

The hospitals were recognized for meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment of STEMI patients to open the blocked artery. Before patients are discharged, they are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers, and they receive smoking cessation counseling if needed.

“This recognition speaks to the quality care we deliver and represents our commitment to improving the well-being of our patients who suffer from a severe heart attack,” said Barclay Berdan, FACHE, CEO of Texas Health Resources.

Texas Health Resources and the physicians on the medical staff, working through the systemwide Heart & Vascular Council, share a vision of making North Texas the vanguard of quality heart care for the state.  Composed of cardiac care specialists and Texas Health administrators, the Council works so that all patients in the system’s service area will receive the same quality care, regardless of their location. 

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About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford is a 304-bed, acute-care facility serving Northeast Tarrant County since 1973. The hospital’s services include women’s services, a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a dedicated oncology unit, comprehensive cardiac services (including cardiac rehabilitation), and behavioral health services through Texas Health Springwood Hospital. Texas Health HEB recently received Level III Trauma Center designation as well as dual accreditation as a Cycle IV Chest Pain Center and Heart Failure Center. The hospital also is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, certified as a Primary Stroke Center and designated as a "Baby Friendly" facility by WHO and UNICEF.Texas Health HEB is an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/HEB.