AMR Blount County Earns National Award for Lifesaving Cardiac and Stroke Care

For the seventh year in a row, American Medical Response (AMR) Blount County, a division of Global Medical Response (GMR), has earned the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold achievement award. This recognition is given to emergency medical services (EMS) agencies that meet or exceed national benchmarks in emergency cardiovascular care and underscores AMR’s commitment to evidence based care, superior patient outcomes, and seamless coordination with hospitals across Blount County.

“This designation reflects not only our commitment to clinical excellence, but also the compassion and readiness our crews bring to every response,” said Jonathan Rodgers, operations manager for AMR Blount County. “Identifying a heart attack early and beginning treatment on the way to the hospital can be lifesaving.”

A National Standard of Care Provided to Blount County
Each year, hundreds of thousands of people in the United States experience ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) — the most dangerous type of heart attack, caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart. In these cases, every minute matters. The faster a patient receives treatment, the better their chances of survival and recovery.

To earn the Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Award, EMS agencies must meet strict national benchmarks for emergency heart care, including:

• Completing an electrocardiogram (ECG) within 10 minutes to quickly identify a heart attack
• Administering medications like aspirin before hospital arrival
• Alerting hospitals in advance about suspected stroke patients, with pre-arrival notifications of less than 10 minutes for patients with STEMI positive ECG
• Stroke screen performed and documented, to include last known well (when a person was most recently observed to be functioning at their normal state) and evaluation of blood glucose levels
• Limiting on-scene time to under 15 minutes to avoid treatment delays
• Transporting patients to PCI-capable centers (facilities equipped to perform emergency heart procedures) within 45 minutes

Ensuring first medical contact to balloon inflation — a procedure that reopens blocked arteries — occurs within 90 minutes, the national gold standard for STEMI care

In 2024, AMR Blount County responded to 890 cardiac and stroke emergencies – 450 cardiac arrests and 440 strokes – consistently exceeding national standards through strong local partnerships and rapid, coordinated response.

“These aren’t just targets for AMR — they’re the baseline,” adds Christopher McLain, manager of clinical education for AMR Blount County. “We follow advanced protocols that include early ECG acquisition, STEMI alert activation from the field, and timely medication delivery. We also work closely with area hospitals to streamline care transitions and improve outcomes. “

A Continued Commitment to Excellence
AMR Blount County remains focused on one goal when it comes to taking care of the community: delivering high-quality care when and where it matters most. Whether responding to a 911 call or coordinating with hospital partners in the moments before a critical procedure, AMR crews act quickly, think critically and care deeply — because every heartbeat deserves a fighting chance.

“Being recognized by the American Heart Association is truly an honor, but what motivates us most is knowing our work helps save lives,” said Josh Spencer, regional director for AMR. “When EMS and hospital teams function as a unified system, the results are powerful — and that’s exactly why we do what we do.”

About the Mission: Lifeline Award
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS recognition program honors EMS agencies that improve outcomes for patients experiencing the most severe heart attacks and strokes. The program promotes high-performance care through integrated systems that connect dispatch, EMS and hospitals in time-sensitive emergencies.

“Arguably the most important link in the chains of survival for acute stroke and cardiovascular emergencies is emergency medical services and prehospital professionals,” said Dr. Kacey Kronenfeld, FAEMS, chair of the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Taskforce. “Early condition identification, stabilization and prehospital interventions, and initiation of actions within the regional systems of care provide patients with the best chance for receiving expedient definitive therapies leading to optimal outcomes and maximized quality of life.”