Once again, Billings Clinic has the gold when it comes to heart care.

Recently, the health careå organization received the Mission: Lifeline^® Gold Plus Receiving Quality Achievement Award — an upward boost from its Gold status last year — for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks.

It also received the Mission: Lifeline^® NSTEMI Silver Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association to treat patients who suffer heart attacks.

“Billings Clinic is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Dr. Brian Rah, cardiologist, and Chair of the Billings Clinic Department of Cardiology. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care through Mission: Lifeline.”

Every year, over 250,000 people experience an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program’s goal is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 9-1-1 call, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. The initiative provides tools, training, and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines.

Billings Clinic earned the Gold Plus recognition by meeting specific criteria and performance standards for quick and appropriate treatment through emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries in heart attack patients coming into the hospital directly or by transfer from another facility. The “Plus” distinction was earned through Billings Clinic’s Gold level award-winning status and additional demonstration of at least 75 percent compliance to certain quality measures.

The Silver NSTEMI award was earned for quick and appropriate treatment of NSTEMI heart attack patients by providing emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries when needed.

“We commend Billings Clinic for this award in recognition for following evidence-based guidelines for timely heart attack treatment,” said Tim Henry, M.D., Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Acute Coronary Syndrome Subcommittee. “We applaud the significant institutional commitment to their critical role in the system of care for quickly and appropriately treating heart attack patients.”

Billings Clinic offers comprehensive cardiology services to patients from Montana, Wyoming, and the western Dakotas through its award-winning John R. Burg MD Cardiac Center, the region’s longest-running heart program. It offers comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation care from board-certified cardiologists, surgeons, advanced practitioners, nurses, and more. Heart health matters and patients who practice preventive care can enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle with friends and family. Billings Clinic’s treatment and rehabilitation will help them get back on their feet. For more information, visit www.billingsclinic.com/heart or call 406-238-2000.