American Heart Association Launches Initiative to Close Technology Gaps in Emergency Cardiac and Stroke Care
The American Heart Association, with support from T-Mobile, is launching an initiative to identify and close technology and communication gaps in emergency response for cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke across 13 U.S. cities.
The American Heart Association (AHA) announced a new initiative aimed at addressing critical communication and technology gaps in emergency response for cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke. The program, supported by T-Mobile, will convene EMS leaders, hospital executives, and public health partners in 13 cities to identify where technology can be better used to strengthen systems of care.
Reliable communication between dispatch, EMS crews, and receiving hospitals can mean the difference between life and death in cardiac emergencies. Yet as mobile technologies—from telehealth platforms to mobile stroke units—rapidly transform emergency response, gaps in systems of care can arise. The AHA's initiative seeks to address those gaps directly and produce recommendations for the future.
The initiative will be integrated into the AHA's Mission: Lifeline® EMS program, which engages more than 1,000 EMS agencies nationwide. It is part of the AHA's Nation of Lifesavers movement, a national effort aiming to double survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030.
“When communication breaks down in the chain of survival, people die. This initiative translates our national mission into market-level action—working alongside EMS leaders to improve care in real communities,” said Dr. Kacey Kronenfeld, volunteer co-chair of the AHA’s EMS Task Force.
The 13 target markets include Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco. In each city, the AHA will host regional system of care forums to identify and close communication and technology gaps. These forums will generate market-level insights that feed into national learning and comparative data analysis.
Annual national roundtables, co-hosted by the AHA and T-Mobile, will convene technology leaders from EMS agencies across the target markets to shape the future of emergency communication systems. “Connectivity saves lives—and that's not just a tagline for us,” said Rod Cruz, vice president of growth and emerging businesses at T-Mobile.
With T-Mobile’s financial support, the AHA will also work to expand participation in Mission: Lifeline EMS recognition nationwide, encouraging more agencies to meet the program's standards for guideline-directed care in cardiac and stroke emergencies.
The initiative underscores the importance of seamless communication in emergency response, where delays can be fatal. By focusing on technology gaps, the AHA aims to improve outcomes for millions of Americans who experience cardiac arrest, heart attack, or stroke each year.