Freeman News

Freeman Earns Two Awards from American Heart Association

October 13, 2017

Honors recognize standard of care for heart attack patients and workplace wellness.

Representatives with American Heart Association® (AHA) presented Freeman Health System with the Mission: Lifeline® Silver Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by AHA for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks.

Every year, more than 250,000 individuals experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most 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, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.

Additionally, Freeman earned the AHA’s Workplace Health Achievement Silver Award for its WellBalance program. WellBalance is the Freeman employee wellness program that promotes healthy lifestyles through free health screenings, fitness classes, and workshops and seminars on topics ranging from financial management to physical fitness and nutrition.

The AHA Workplace Health Achievement Index allows companies to measure the effectiveness of their workplace health programs, as well as the overall heart health of their employees. Companies receive benchmarking reports, which allow them to identify potential areas of improvement.

About Freeman Health System

Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2017, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. The Leapfrog Group awarded Freeman the highest grade possible in the Spring 2017 Hospital Patient Safety Score. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 70 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.