HUTCHINSON, Kan. — For the third consecutive year, the American Heart Association has named Reno County EMS winner of the Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award designation.

An AHA spokesman said the award is in recognition of outstanding care provided by Reno County EMS personnel for patients suffering from a STEMI heart attack, which is imperative to increase the odds for a favorable outcome.

The achievement illustrates his staff’s commitment to providing guideline-based care while meeting high standards of performance. Reno County EMS is one of four to receive the Gold Plus designation in Kansas from among the 174 providers of emergency medical care.

“Reno County EMS has received a number of awards and designations leading up to the Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award,” Terry David, who heads the EMS service, said. “Our staff has set the bar high and continues to maintain a high standard.”

Reno County EMS employs 35 full-time and 10 part-time employees and responded to approximately 6,400 emergency calls in 2017, a 4.5 percent increase from the previous year. January 2018 was the busiest month in Reno County EMS history with 648 calls.

Reno County EMS has operated under the umbrella of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center since 1972.

“EMS has performed exemplary service in providing emergency medical care to 65,000 residents that reside in the 1,272 square miles that make up Reno County,” Ken Johnson, President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said.

“Reno County EMS is a consistent winner of annual awards, all of which is a reaffirmation of the quality of care provided by this group of highly trained healthcare professionals,” Johnson continued.