Louisville Metro EMS earns national honor for response to heart attacks, strokes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro EMS was recognized by the American Heart Association for its care of patients suffering heart attacks and strokes.

The American Heart Association presented the Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Achievement Award to Louisville Metro EMS for its dedication to ensuring access to best practices and lifesaving care, according to a news release Wednesday. Louisville Metro EMS was honored for its commitment to offering rapid and research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of heart attacks and strokes.

"No matter the call, Louisville Metro EMS is prepared to offer life-saving medical care to our community," Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a news release. "This American Heart Association award exemplifies our city’s continued dedication to offering the best, and most up-to-date EMS treatment each and every day."

According to a news release, Mission: Lifeline EMS recognition is an American Heart Association program designed to showcase prehospital agencies nationwide for excellence in heart attack and stroke care.

"Arguably the most important link in the chains of survival for acute stroke and cardiovascular emergencies is emergency medical services and prehospital professionals," Dr. Kacey Kronenfeld, chair of the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline EMS Taskforce, said in a news release. "Early condition identification, stabilization, and prehospital interventions and initiation of actions within the regional systems of care provide patients with the best chance for receiving expedient definitive therapies leading to optimal outcomes and maximized quality of life."

The recognition program was launched in 2014. It's the 11th straight year Louisville Metro EMS has received the recognition.

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