CHICO, CA (MPG) - Enloe Health Enloe Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get with The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus recognition for its commitment to providing rapid, research-based care to people experiencing a specific type of heart attack known as an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), acknowledged to be more severe and dangerous than other types of heart attacks.

Each year, approximately 285,000 people in the United States experience this type of heart attack, caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery. Nearly 40% of people who go to the emergency room with acute coronary syndrome are diagnosed with an ST elevation myocardial infarction. Like all heart attacks, this requires timely treatment to restore blood flow as quickly as possible.

Recognition as a STEMI Receiving Center is designed to showcase hospitals that provide 24/7 support for ST elevation myocardial infarction. These important facilities coordinate with a network of referring hospitals and emergency medical services to provide guideline-directed ST elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) care. An NSTEMI heart attack occurs when an artery is partially blocked.

The STEMI Receiving Center award is earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to treating patients according to the most up-to-date research-based guidelines for STEMI care as outlined by the American Heart Association.

“Enloe Health is dedicated to improving the quality of heart care and the American Heart Association’s Get with The Guidelines program helps us achieve that goal,” said Enloe’s President and CEO Mike Wiltermood.

“The program puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, so patients have the best possible chance of survival.”

Enloe Health also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to heart attack.