San Juan Regional Health

San Juan Regional Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Achievement Award for improving outcomes for patients who suffer severe heart attacks. The Gold Plus Award is the highest recognition awarded by the American Heart Association.

A STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction) is the deadliest type of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible. The Mission: Lifeline® program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment, starting from when 911 is called, to EMS transport, continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. 

“Optimal care for heart attack patients is a coordinated effort and EMTs and paramedics play a vital role in the system,” said Eric Christensen, Operations Manager of San Juan Regional Medical Center’s EMS. “As first responders, our crews are often the first medical point of contact on scene, and they can save precious minutes of treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts San Juan Regional Medical Center to an incoming heart attack patient.”

This is the fourth year in a row that San Juan Regional Medical Center’s EMS has received the Gold Plus Award, following three years of Gold recognition. Consistently following up-to-date, research-based guidelines has helped us to ensure that all patients have access to lifesaving care. 

“San Juan Regional Medical Center is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association once again for our dedication to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said John Mayer, CFO and Acting Administrator of San Juan Regional Medical Center. “As a community hospital, our focus is on doing everything we can to provide quality care for our patients.”