Albany Medical Center has received national recognition from the American Heart Association for its efforts in providing high-quality care to heart attack patients. The hospital was awarded the Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center Silver Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll distinction. This award highlights Albany Medical Center’s commitment to delivering rapid, research-based treatment for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a severe and dangerous type of heart attack.
“All heart attacks need to be treated quickly, but a STEMI heart attack is particularly dangerous and requires emergent and specialized expertise,” said Dan Pauze, MD, vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer at Albany Medical Center. “As the region’s only academic medical center, our specialists are up to date on the latest scientific studies and treatment options for all types of cardiovascular events. With additional guidance from the Get With The Guidelines program, we’re able to enhance the care we provide to our community, giving our patients the best possible chance of survival and helping them to live longer, healthier lives.”
In the United States, more than one million cases of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) require hospitalization each year. About 30 percent of these cases are classified as STEMI, which is caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery that can stop blood flow to the heart. Timely intervention is necessary in these situations to reduce damage and restore circulation.
The American Heart Association states that hospitals recognized as STEMI Receiving Centers provide round-the-clock support for this type of heart attack. These centers work closely with referring hospitals and emergency services to ensure guideline-directed care for both STEMI and non-STEMI heart attacks.
“Effective and timely care is crucial for patients experiencing a STEMI heart attack. The American Heart Association’s guidelines call for specific interventions for these patients both in-hospital and post-hospitalization,” said Abhinav Goyal, MD, MHS, FACC, FAHA, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Coronary Artery Disease System of Care Advisory Group.
Hospitals receive the STEMI Receiving Center award by demonstrating adherence to current research-based guidelines established by the American Heart Association for treating STEMI patients.
Albany Medical Center also earned recognition on the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll from the American Heart Association. This program aims to ensure that hospitalized patients with Type 2 diabetes who suffer a heart attack receive evidence-based care designed specifically for their increased risk profile.
