Miami-Beach-Fire-Department-Recognized-by-the-American-Heart-Association-for-Quality-EMS-Care
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 PRESS RELEASE
Tonya Daniels, E-mail: tonyadaniels@miamibeachfl.gov
Melissa Berthier, E-mail: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2018
Miami Beach Fire Department Recognized by the American Heart
Association for Delivering Quality EMS Care
—Third Consecutive Year of Receiving the Mission:Lifeline Gold or Gold
Plus Award —
Miami Beach, FL – The Miami Beach Fire Department has been awarded the Mission:Lifeline
EMS Gold Plus Award by the American Heart Association for its impact in saving lives and
excellent quality of care for heart patients, specifically in regards to ST Elevation Myocardian
Infarction (STEMI) victims.
“Time is crucial to the survival of STEMI patients,” noted Miami Beach Fire Chief Virgil
Fernandez. “At the onset of an emergency, all our first responders are trained by
Mission:Lifeline to quickly identify STEMI, provide proper treatment effectively and trigger an
early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.”
Affecting more than 250,000 individuals across the nation annually, STEMI is a type of heart
attack caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart. It requires immediate
treatment that many fail to receive in a timely manner. Closing the gap, Mission:Lifeline focuses
on helping hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow
proven standards and procedures for these high-risk heart patients.
“I’m proud of the department for the valiant efforts they’ve put forth to earn this prestigious
award, and I look forward to continuing our education on evidence-based treatments as we look
for others ways to improve care for these too common cases,” added Fernandez.
Agencies awarded the Mission:Lifeline Gold Plus award must have demonstrated at least 75
percent compliance for each required achievement measure for the entire year and have treated
at least eight STEMI patients for the last two full years. In particular, the department was
recognized for its immediate compression performances, strong establishment of an advanced
airway and delivery of advanced cardiac life supports medications and electrical therapy –
among other cardiac arrests performance and treatment measures.
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