The Virginia Heart Attack Coalition (VHAC) is pleased to share updates from the EMS Education (formerly ECG Education) Workgroup, a VHAC-led collaborative focused on advancing cardiovascular education related to pre-hospital clinical assessment, management, and transport. The workgroup has demonstrated strong engagement and clear direction, with leadership and momentum supported by workgroup champions Bob Page, M.Ed., NRP (Edutainment Consulting and Seminars, LLC ) and Yasmin

We are excited to announce that the 12-Lead ECG Fundamentals Course, developed by the VHAC ECG Education Committee and supported by VCSQI, is now available for download. This course was created to strengthen statewide ECG competency and ensure rapid, accurate STEMI recognition across EMS and hospital teams. It covers essential knowledge and skills including: What an ECG is and how cardiac electrical activity is measured When to obtain a 12-lead and when a 15-lead is required

Driving Standardization and Insight Across Virginia The VHAC Pulmonary Embolism Response (PERT) Protocol is a new statewide framework developed by the Virginia Heart Attack Coalition (VHAC) PE Response Workgroup, a multicenter collaborative led by Dr. Michael Kelley of Carilion Clinic. Released October 8, 2025, this protocol was built through shared expertise and real-world feedback from hospitals across Virginia to streamline the recognition and management of acute pulmonary

Held at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond • 2025 Fall Statewide Meeting Virginia is tightening cardiovascular care by standardizing pathways, expanding registry coverage, and attacking stubborn delay—especially in the ED. The day hinged on two anchors: State of the State from Peter O’Brien, MD — Co-Founder, VHAC (Centra Lynchburg) and a cardiogenic shock deep-dive from Shashank Sinha, MD (Inova Fairfax). State of the State — Peter O’Brien, MD — Co-Founder, VHAC (Centra