St. Vincent Infirmary quality award

Published September 18, 2020

St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock received the Mission: Lifeline Gold Plus Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing improvements suggested 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, 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.

St. Vincent Infirmary earned the award by meeting specific standards for quick 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.