AMR CSA-17 Earns National Award for Lifesaving Cardiac and Stroke Care
7.1.2025
American Heart Association recognizes local EMS agency for rapid, research-based response.
American Medical Response (AMR) CSA-17, a division of Global Medical Response (GMR) has earned the 2025 American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold achievement award recognizing the agency’s commitment to delivering fast, evidence-based care for patients experiencing the most serious types of heart emergencies. This is the fourth consecutive year AMR has received the program’s highest honor — a distinction held since 2021.
The award highlights EMS agencies that meet or exceed national benchmarks in emergency cardiovascular care. For AMR, it reflects a continued commitment to patient outcomes, clinical precision, seamless coordination with local hospitals and, most importantly, a collaborative partnership with San Diego County EMS Office to serve the communities of San Diego County.
“Receiving this award for the fourth year in a row is more than a mark of consistency — it’s a testament to our unwavering dedication to providing exceptional care in every situation,” said Carlos Valdez Acosta-Mesa, operations manager for AMR CSA-17. “This work is possible because of our strong partnership with the San Diego County EMS Office, Solana Beach Fire Department, Del Mar Fire Department, Encinitas Fire Department and Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. Together, our teams prepare for these critical moments, and the difference they make is evident in the lives they touch.”
How AMR CSA-17 Meets National Care Standards
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:
In 2024, AMR CSA-17 responded to more than 229 cardiac and stroke emergencies – 58 cardiac arrests and 171 strokes – consistently exceeding national standards through strong local partnerships and rapid, coordinated response.
“Early recognition of a heart attack or stroke, initiating care in the field, and timely transport to a specialty hospital for immediate treatment saves lives and reduces disabilities,” said Kristi Koenig, EMS Medical Director, San Diego County EMS Office. “Paramedics are trained to immediately identify signs and symptoms of these cardiac and neurologic emergencies at the scene. Our strong partnership with AMR enables delivery of timely, world-class emergency medical services that exceed national standards.”
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.
AMR CSA-17 also received the 2025 Mission: Lifeline System of Care Target: Heart Attack Award, which recognizes agencies that consistently transport patients to designated STEMI-receiving and STEMI-referring centers — ensuring access to the full continuum of cardiac care.
“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.”
A Continued Commitment to Excellence
AMR CSA-17 and San Diego County EMS Office remain 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, the teams act quickly, think critically and care deeply — because every heartbeat deserves a fighting chance.
“The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District proudly celebrates its partnership with American Medical Response (AMR) as CSA-17 receives national recognition for excellence in lifesaving cardiac and stroke care,” said Jim Mickelson, deputy chief, Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. “This prestigious award reflects the strong collaborative efforts between AMR and all CSA-17 fire agencies, underscoring our shared commitment to delivering the highest standard of emergency medical services to the community.”
The award highlights EMS agencies that meet or exceed national benchmarks in emergency cardiovascular care. For AMR, it reflects a continued commitment to patient outcomes, clinical precision, seamless coordination with local hospitals and, most importantly, a collaborative partnership with San Diego County EMS Office to serve the communities of San Diego County.
“Receiving this award for the fourth year in a row is more than a mark of consistency — it’s a testament to our unwavering dedication to providing exceptional care in every situation,” said Carlos Valdez Acosta-Mesa, operations manager for AMR CSA-17. “This work is possible because of our strong partnership with the San Diego County EMS Office, Solana Beach Fire Department, Del Mar Fire Department, Encinitas Fire Department and Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. Together, our teams prepare for these critical moments, and the difference they make is evident in the lives they touch.”
How AMR CSA-17 Meets National Care Standards
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 CSA-17 responded to more than 229 cardiac and stroke emergencies – 58 cardiac arrests and 171 strokes – consistently exceeding national standards through strong local partnerships and rapid, coordinated response.
“Early recognition of a heart attack or stroke, initiating care in the field, and timely transport to a specialty hospital for immediate treatment saves lives and reduces disabilities,” said Kristi Koenig, EMS Medical Director, San Diego County EMS Office. “Paramedics are trained to immediately identify signs and symptoms of these cardiac and neurologic emergencies at the scene. Our strong partnership with AMR enables delivery of timely, world-class emergency medical services that exceed national standards.”
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.
AMR CSA-17 also received the 2025 Mission: Lifeline System of Care Target: Heart Attack Award, which recognizes agencies that consistently transport patients to designated STEMI-receiving and STEMI-referring centers — ensuring access to the full continuum of cardiac care.
“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.”
A Continued Commitment to Excellence
AMR CSA-17 and San Diego County EMS Office remain 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, the teams act quickly, think critically and care deeply — because every heartbeat deserves a fighting chance.
“The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District proudly celebrates its partnership with American Medical Response (AMR) as CSA-17 receives national recognition for excellence in lifesaving cardiac and stroke care,” said Jim Mickelson, deputy chief, Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. “This prestigious award reflects the strong collaborative efforts between AMR and all CSA-17 fire agencies, underscoring our shared commitment to delivering the highest standard of emergency medical services to the community.”
