St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Earns Silver Award for STEMI Treatment

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience the most deadly type of heart attack which is caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart. These STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction) heart attacks require timely treatment as it is critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible.

St. Luke’s Health-Memorial works to reduce all barriers that would prevent someone from receiving prompt treatment. Due to a lot of hard work and dedication from the physicians, nurses, technicians and hospital staff, as well as the Lufkin Fire Department, Memorial received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline STEMI Receiving Center - Silver Quality Achievement Award. The award is presented to a select few throughout the country that have implemented specific quality improvement measures to make sure patients get the treatment they need, faster.

“CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin is constantly striving to enhance the quality of care our heart attack patients receive, and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that goal through nationally respected clinical guidelines,” said Shawn Barnett, St. Luke’s Health Memorial COO & Lufkin President. “We are very proud to be recognized for our achievements in cardiac care.”

“We commend St. Luke’s Health-Memorial for this achievement which reflects a significant institutional commitment to the highest quality of care for their heart attack patients,” said James G. Jollis, MD, Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group. “We applaud them for their commitment to quality and timely care.”

St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin earned the award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment of STEMI patients by providing emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries when needed. Eligible hospitals must adhere to these measures at a set level for 12 consecutive months to receive this award.