Piedmont Macon Medical Center has received two American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

This year, Piedmont Macon received these achievement awards: 

• Gold Plus Mission: Lifeline Stemi award;

• Gold Mission: Lifeline NStemi award.

 Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines. 

Mission: Lifeline puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Mission: Lifeline program, Piedmont Macon qualified for the awards by demonstrating how its organization has focused on improving quality care.

 “Piedmont Macon is committed to improving care by using the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks,” said Stephen J. Daugherty, CEO of Piedmont Macon and Piedmont Macon North. “The Mission: Lifeline program makes it easier for our teams to put evidence-based guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more people in Middle Georgia experience longer, healthier lives.”

Linda Pender, a Cardiovascular Services clinical quality data analyst at Piedmont Macon, said she’s particularly proud of this year’s awards.

“We have been able to show, through the AHA, the exemplary cardiac care we provide to the community,” she said. “Even through the pandemic, we did not waver in the care we provided. This shows that our staff does not only recognize cardiac symptoms but also provides the highest level of care to our patients.”

John Warner, M.D., FAHA, past president of the American Heart Association and executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas, said he is “pleased to recognize Piedmont Macon for its commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care.”

“Hospitals that follow the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”