Fort Worth Fire Nationally Recognized for Commitment to Quality Care

The Fort Worth Fire Department was recognized by the American Heart Association with the Mission: Lifeline EMS Silver achievement award.

The city published a blog post announcing the award on Tuesday. According to the post, the department won the award for its commitment to offering rapid and research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of heart attacks and strokes.

The Mission: Lifeline EMS Recognition program recognizes prehospital emergency agencies for their quality of care for heart attack and stroke patients. It helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment for patients with high-risk, time-sensitive disease states, such as severe heart attacks and strokes.

In Fort Worth, emergency medical services staff can begin treatment when they arrive, which is up to an hour sooner than if someone goes to the hospital by car.

Additionally, EMS staff are trained to provide resuscitation efforts to someone whose heart has stopped. People who arrive by ambulance can in some cases receive faster treatment at the hospital.

The department was also recognized on the association's Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll, which is focused on the system of care for patients. The award spotlights the collaboration and contributions of both prehospital and hospital providers.

Agencies must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between the first EMS medical contact to hospital arrival and treatment with primary percutaneous coronary intervention or thrombolytic therapy.