Staff Writer
June 24, 2025
Cuero Regional Hospital’s Emergency Medical Services team has earned national recognition from the American Heart Association, receiving the Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold award for its exemplary response and care provided to patients facing severe heart attacks and strokes.
Thanks to expert training and fast action, EMS teams in Cuero are equipped to deliver critical interventions immediately upon arrival at the scene—often beginning life-saving efforts en route to the hospital. Their ability to initiate advanced resuscitation and stabilize patients before reaching the emergency department plays a crucial role in survival outcomes.
Mission: Lifeline EMS®, a flagship initiative of the American Heart Association, is designed to streamline emergency care systems for conditions where every minute counts—such as acute heart attacks and strokes. The program promotes collaboration between 911 responders, EMS teams, hospitals, and specialty physicians to ensure consistent, high-quality treatment from first contact to hospital discharge.
“The EMS professionals are a vital part of the survival chain when it comes to time-sensitive medical emergencies,” noted Dr. Kacey Kronenfeld, Chair of the AHA’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Taskforce. “Rapid recognition, early intervention, and coordination across regional systems make a significant difference in patient recovery and long-term health.”
Freddie Solis, Director of EMS at Cuero Regional, expressed pride in the team’s achievement, stating, “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 Gold-level honor emphasizes the role of EMS teams not just in transportation, but as front-line providers whose care decisions directly shape patient outcomes. By consistently meeting performance benchmarks, Cuero’s EMS unit exemplifies what high-functioning prehospital care looks like.
Cuero Regional Hospital, a designated Level IV Trauma Center, also holds the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus distinction, highlighting its dedication to stroke care excellence. The hospital is home to a 24/7 emergency department, a robust outpatient specialty clinic with over a dozen specialists, and services ranging from wound care and cardio-pulmonary rehab to home sleep diagnostics. For details, visit www.cueroregionalhospital.org.
For more on the Mission: Lifeline EMS® initiative, visit www.heart.org.
Adapted from a report by Tamara Kainer, Hospital News, June 16, 2025.