Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute is recognized as a Level I STEMI center and the only facility in the area with that designation.

To receive this designation, a hospital must show that it has the providers and resources required for STEMI care, and that its physicians and staff annually meet rigorous educational standards.

STEMI refers to a ST-elevation myocardial infarction, a dangerous heart attack caused by a blockage in a major coronary artery. 

Freeman has a door-to-balloon time of 57 minutes, significantly lower than the 90-minute recommendation from the American Heart Association. Door-to-balloon time is a time measurement that starts when a patient with a cardiac emergency arrives at the emergency department and ends with the inflation of a balloon inside the blocked coronary artery. Time is muscle—the more time it takes to correct the problem, the more permanent damage the heart muscle can sustain.

Freeman has held Level I STEMI designation since 2017 and recently completed its renewal survey. The hospital now awaits confirmation of its continued designation, which is valid for three years. 

The STEMI Level I designation is a testament to teamwork at Freeman. The collaboration that takes place with every STEMI patient ensures we are providing highly efficient care, without sacrificing quality. Freeman is specifically equipped to treat STEMI patients–improving both speed and quality of care–by coordinating 911 response system, ambulance services, and hospitals in a comprehensive, integrated approach.

Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute has recently won multiple awards including: The American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain–MI Registry Platinum Achievement Award, as well as the Mission: Lifeline STEMI Gold Plus and the NSTEMI Gold Quality Achievement Awards from the American Heart Association. All three honors have been bestowed upon Freeman for the past three years and are a direct result of the focus and work of our cardiac performance improvement committee, administration, and physician commitment to deliver the highest cardiac standards and metrics. 

Freeman was one of only 323 hospitals and health care systems nationwide to receive the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR 2025 Chest Pain—MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award. Not only does this benchmark our performance with similar institutions, but it also fosters collaboration among all time critical diagnosis and emergency departments. Freeman first earned the award in 2020 and has held it ever since.

Each year, there are an estimated 605,000 new heart attacks and 200,000 repeat heart attacks (meaning the person has had one before) in the U.S. according to the American Heart Association. About 30% of those who go to the emergency room with acute coronary syndrome were diagnosed with a STEMI. 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. Studies show patients can recover better when health care providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.

Michelle Wolfe is the STEMI Coordinator for Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute, which provides nationally recognized care for Joplin and surrounding areas. To find out more, give the Institute a call at 417.347.5000 or visit freemanhealth.com/specialty/heart-vascular-care.