The VHAC Shock Workgroup is pleased to introduce the VHAC Cardiogenic Shock Case Conference, a dedicated name for the case-based learning component of the Workgroup’s ongoing efforts. The VHAC Shock Workgroup will continue its broader work focused on cardiogenic shock systems of care, protocols, data, quality improvement, and collaboration among hospitals and healthcare professionals across Virginia. The VHAC Cardiogenic Shock Case Conference provides a consistent forum for p

Our ECG Education Course: 12-Lead Placement & Interpretation for Prehospital Care is now open to all interested participants. Whether you’re with Newport News EMS, another agency, or simply looking to strengthen your ECG knowledge and skills, you’re welcome to join us. 📅 August 10, 2026 | 5:00–7:00 PM📍 Newport News EMS Learn practical approaches to 12-lead ECG placement and interpretation that can help build confidence in prehospital cardiac care. Space may be limited — reg

VHAC Welcomes Dr. Petra Lynch as Eastern Regional Lead The Virginia Heart Attack Coalition (VHAC) is pleased to announce Petra Lynch, M.D., as the newest Regional Lead for Virginia’s Eastern Region. Dr. Lynch is an interventional cardiologist with Sentara Cardiology Specialists who primarily serves patients on the Peninsula while supporting hospitals throughout the Sentara system. Her clinical interests include women’s cardiovascular health, heart-disease prevention, high-ris

VHAC is proud to announce Noah Hillstrom as our newest Northwestern Regional Leader. Noah brings more than two decades of experience in emergency services, education, and community leadership. His EMS career began in 2002 as a volunteer with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad, where he went on to serve as Chief from 2018 to 2020 and was recognized as a life member for his long-standing commitment and service. In 2012, Noah founded Emergency Training Solutions, LLC w

As part of the VHAC Case Presentation Series, this recorded presentation features a complex cardiovascular case involving STEMI complicated by cardiogenic shock and ischemic mitral regurgitation. We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Moemen Eltelbany, an interventional cardiology fellow at the University of Virginia, for presenting this case and contributing to an important multidisciplinary discussion. His presentation highlights the value of case-based learning in examining c

The Virginia Heart Attack Coalition is now accepting presentation submissions for upcoming VHAC Workgroup sessions. Healthcare teams across Virginia are invited to share case reviews, quality initiatives, workflow improvements, challenging cases, lessons learned, innovative practices, and system-level strategies that can help strengthen cardiovascular systems of care across the Commonwealth. This is an opportunity to share what is working, highlight real-world challenges, sup

VHAC and VCSQI continues to support collaboration, shared learning, and quality improvement across healthcare. Here are a few updates and upcoming opportunities to know about this week and later this month. Stay connected with VCSQI and VHAC through the upcoming events, meetings, and opportunities listed below. This roundup is designed to help members, partners, and community stakeholders keep important dates on their radar and stay engaged in the work ahead. This Week: Later

Strengthening systems of care through collaboration, education, and regional engagement across the Commonwealth. SAVE THE DATE Fall VHAC Statewide Meeting October 21–22, 2026📍 Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Join cardiovascular leaders, physicians, EMS professionals, nurses, administrators, and quality teams from across Virginia for two days of networking, collaboration, and statewide quality improvement efforts. Stay tuned for registration and agenda information. Collaborativ

EMS professionals, dispatch teams, and healthcare partners are invited to participate in an upcoming Virginia OEMS-approved virtual continuing education session focused on strengthening ECG interpretation and STEMI recognition. Fundamentals of 12-Lead ECG will be presented by Bob Page, M.Ed, NRP, CCP, NCEE, CHSE, CHSOS, a nationally recognized EMS educator. This session is designed to enhance statewide ECG competency and support rapid, accurate STEMI identification across EMS

We are excited to introduce the new Virginia Heart Attack Coalition (VHAC) Member Resource Handbook — a comprehensive guide designed to support your engagement, leadership, and impact within our statewide collaborative. This handbook serves as a practical roadmap for: VHAC’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities The three strategic pillars: EMS Engagement, Regional System Development, and Data-Driven Improvement Participation expectations and engagement benchmarks Regiona

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

Fast-moving, high-value education: STEMI, cardiogenic shock, PBM, TAVR, and more. CE included. We invite you and your teams to attend a...

We are proud to announce the release of the Virginia Statewide Cardiogenic Shock Protocol, officially approved on August 5, 2025, by the...

Accurate data saves lives. That’s why a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC ) should...

The Virginia Heart Attack Coalition (VHAC) is proud to announce the release of the Pre-Hospital STEMI Data Definitions , developed by the...

Must reads: Delays in STEMI Treatment Remain Common, Tied to Worse PCI Outcomes | https://www.tctmd.com/.../delays-stemi-treatment-remain...

When a patient experiences a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)—a severe type of heart attack—every second between the onset of...