St. Charles County Ambulance District [SCCAD] Paramedics extended their streak of being recognized by the American Heart Association’s [AHA] annual Mission: Lifeline program, being recognized once again at the highest-possible Gold level. 2026 marks SCCAD’s thirteenth recognition as a Mission: Lifeline honoree in as many years, and its ninth Gold honor. In addition, the District was named to the Target Heart Attack and Stroke Honor Rolls.
Each year, more than 250,000 individuals experience a ST elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI], a deadly type of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it is critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, a significant number of these patients don’t receive this prompt attention.
The correct tools, training and practices allow SCCAD paramedics to rapidly treat these patients and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel. Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Gold award demonstrated compliance for each of four required cardiac achievement measures, and two stroke reporting measures. The Target Heart Attack Honor Roll distinction reflects that paramedics are consistently performing a 12-lead ECG on patients within 10 minutes on chest pain calls. The Target Stroke recognizes efforts to connect all components of acute stroke care into a smoothly integrated system.
“SCCAD paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who experience significant medical emergencies in our community,” said SCCAD Chief Medical Officer David K. Tan, M.D. “As the first medical point of contact, they perform life-saving interventions and save precious minutes of treatment by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals.”
SCCAD paramedics and leadership staff are elated to be recognized at this high level, highlighting the fact that collaborative relationships with hospitals and fire partners make it possible.
“Collaborative training with fire partners, regular meetings with BJC, SSM and Mercy partners to streamline processes, along with updated, evidenced-based patient care guidelines allow SCCAD paramedics to provide the highest quality stroke and heart attack are to patients in St. Charles County,” said John Romeo, Deputy Chief of Professional Standards.
Cardiac care has been a long-term area of focus for SCCAD; the agency was among the first in the nation to implement cardio-cerebral resuscitation protocols in 2015, and continues to provide intensive, annual training to paramedics and firefighters on said protocols.