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Sunstar Paramedics honored by American Heart Association

Sunstar recognized for achievements in care of severe heart attack patients

Sunstar Paramedics was recently awarded a 2014 Mission: Lifeline® EMS Silver Level Recognition Award by the American Heart Association.

The award recognizes Sunstar’s commitment and success in implementing specific quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who suffer a severe heart attack known as an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

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Sunstar was one of six EMS programs recognized in Florida, based on its efforts in improving STEMI systems of care and improving the quality-of-life for these patients.

“We are very honored to receive this recognition from the American Heart Association,” said Mark Postma, Chief Operating Officer with Sunstar. “Our efforts to continually improve care for severe heart attack patients is a good example of how we’re constantly aiming to stay on top of best practices in the EMS industry.”

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Recipients were scored based on a set of criteria relating to care of STEMI patients. Those that received the award demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure and treated at least eight STEMI patients in 2013.

Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate STEMI patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. This award supports the collaboration among pre-hospital and hospital providers.

About Sunstar Paramedics:

Sunstar is the 9-1-1 ambulance transport service for all Pinellas County residents, employing 550 local residents, and responding to around 500 calls a day. Highly awarded and accredited, Sunstar utilizes state-of-the-art equipment and software, and (along with parent company Paramedics Plus) is an innovator of the industry’s best practices. Sunstar’s employees are heavily involved in Pinellas communities, focusing largely on public safety programs for the public and for schools. More information is available at SunstarEMS.com.

About Mission: Lifeline:
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for STEMI patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit Heart.org/MissionLifeline or Heart.org/Quality. 

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