Virginia Beach EMS Nationally Recognized for its Commitment to Quality Care for Heart Attacks and Strokes

The American Heart Association (AHA) has named the City of Virginia Beach Department of Emergency Medical Services (VBEMS) a 2023 AHA Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Agency with a Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll designation, further cementing VBEMS as one of the premier third-service EMS agencies in the United States.

"We're incredibly proud of the work that our members, both career and volunteer, put together to receive this outstanding distinction," said VBEMS Interim Chief Bruce Nedelka. "Incredible amounts of research, training and hard work over the last year went into our department, the volunteer rescue squads of Virginia Beach and our local public safety partners sharing the highest recognition offered by the AHA. The Mission: Lifeline program puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, so patients have the best possible chance of survival."

The Mission: Lifeline program aims to recognize prehospital EMS agencies for their quality of care for heart attack (STEMI), Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and stroke patients. VBEMS earned the 2023 AHA Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Agency with a Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll designation by meeting AHA criteria for 2022.

VBEMS and the volunteer rescue squads of Virginia Beach partner with the Fire, Emergency Communications & Citizens Services and Police departments to sustain Virginia Beach's emergency response system (ERS). The City of Virginia Beach ERS features a broad depth of response for emergency calls for service, ensuring that residents and guests receive the highest quality of prehospital emergency medical services possible.