NEW CITY, N.Y. — Rockland Paramedic Services (RPS) has received national recognition from the American Heart Association for its efforts to provide rapid, evidence-based care to patients experiencing life-threatening heart attacks and strokes.
The agency recently earned the Mission: Lifeline EMS Bronze Achievement Award, an honor recognizing emergency medical service providers that demonstrate a commitment to following best practices and improving outcomes for patients with time-sensitive cardiovascular emergencies.
According to the American Heart Association, emergency medical personnel often begin treatment well before a patient reaches the hospital, a critical factor in improving survival rates and reducing long-term complications. EMS providers are trained to identify severe cardiac and stroke emergencies, initiate treatment in the field and coordinate care with hospitals to expedite treatment upon arrival.
“Rockland Paramedic Services is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Executive Director Tim Egan. “The Mission: Lifeline program puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, so patients have the best possible chance of survival.”
Mission: Lifeline EMS is the American Heart Association’s national initiative aimed at improving systems of care for patients suffering from severe heart attacks, strokes and other high-risk medical emergencies. The program focuses on reducing delays in treatment from the moment a 911 call is placed through hospital care and recovery.
Medical experts emphasize that timely intervention is often the most important factor in determining outcomes for patients experiencing strokes or major cardiac events.
“Arguably the most important link in the chains of survival for acute stroke and cardiovascular emergencies is emergency medical services and prehospital professionals,” said Dr. Kacey Kronenfeld, chair of the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Taskforce. “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 Mission: Lifeline EMS achievement awards evaluate agencies on the quality of care provided in the field and highlight the role emergency responders play in improving patient outcomes before arrival at a hospital.
Rockland Paramedic Services provides advanced life support and emergency medical care throughout Rockland County, responding to thousands of emergency calls each year. Officials said the national recognition reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality emergency care and maintaining strong coordination with regional hospitals and health care providers.