Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center receives American Heart Association accreditation for acute cardiac care

ALBUQUERQUE – February 26, 2019 – Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® Heart Attack Receiving Center Accreditation.

The accreditation program — provided by the American Heart Association — recognizes centers that meet or exceed quality of care measures for people experiencing the most severe type of heart attack, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), in which blood flow is completely blocked to a portion of the heart. The accreditation identifies healthcare facilities that meet specific criteria for lifesaving heart attack treatments that restore blood flow.

Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center underwent reviews by accreditation specialists from the American Heart Association. Key areas in which Heart Hospital’s exceptional quality of care to receive accreditation include:
• Expertise, facilities and equipment to perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), where a small balloon is inserted through a catheter to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels in the heart (coronary arteries)
• PCI readiness on a 24/7 basis
• Coordination with emergency medical services (EMS) and referring centers (non-PCI) to prepare for immediate treatment when STEMI patients arrive
• Facilitation of STEMI patient transport participation in a multidisciplinary team with representatives from EMS, cardiac catheterization lab, quality improvement, coronary care unit, physician and nursing staff, meet regularly to identify challenges and make continuous care improvements.

“Heart Hospital is thoroughly committed to providing our patients the highest quality cardiac care centered on current scientific research. The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® Heart Attack Receiving Center Accreditation has highlighted our accomplishments as we strive to improve the overall treatment and care for our heart attack patients,” said Denzil Ross, administrator for Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center. “Our world-renowned heart and vascular care team from New Mexico Heart Institute make it possible for us to provide this level of care to our patients.”

To learn more about Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center and its commitment to providing quality and compassionate care, please visit www.lovelace.com. To make an appointment with a New Mexico Heart Institute provider, please call 505.841.1000.

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Contact:
Whitney Marquez, Lovelace Health System  
Phone: 505.727.5503  

Lovelace Health System consists of Lovelace Medical Group, Lovelace Women’s Hospital, Lovelace Medical Center, Lovelace Westside Hospital, Lovelace Regional Hospital in Roswell and Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital. For more information, go to www.lovelace.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE