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Iberia Medical Center: Special Designation for Heart Attack Care

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Iberia Medical Center: Special Designation for Heart Attack Care

February 2, 2026

Iberia Medical Center has earned a special designation for heart attack care.  The Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN) recognizes Iberia Medical Center’s Main Campus as a STEMI Receiving Center, an elite designation for hospitals meeting or exceeding national guidelines for heart attack care.

 

What is a STEMI Heart Attack?

STEMI, or ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, is a serious heart attack caused by a lack of blood flow to large areas of the heart. Patients experiencing these critical types of heart attacks require immediate medical intervention to restore blood flow and minimize damage. As a designated STEMI Receiving Center Iberia Medical Center’s Main Campus is equipped to deliver potential lifesaving treatment by reopening blocked arteries within 90 minutes, meeting the national standard for STEMI care.

 

Importance of Designation

This lifesaving criteria ensures that patients experiencing chest pain or heart attacks receive the fastest, most effective treatment available. This designation means that Iberia Medical Center’s Main Campus can quickly assess, diagnose and provide interventional heart attack-related care, significantly improving outcomes. 

 

“This designation reflects our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, timely emergency cardiac care to our community,” said Dionne Viator, CEO. “As one of a few hospitals in the region with this designation, our Main Campus team and life-saving technology is available 24/7. Fast response to heart attacks means we are saving lives.”

 

What is the Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN)

The Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN) is an agency of state government created by the Louisiana Legislature in 2004 charged with the responsibility of developing and maintaining a statewide system of care coordination for patients suddenly stricken by serious traumatic injury or time-sensitive illness (such as heart attack and stroke). It is a system also designated to serve as a vital healthcare resource in the face of larger scale emergencies and natural disasters.

IMC Foundation Launches Project: Safe Schools

Iberia Parish School Board and Iberia Parish School Administration recently joined Iberia Medical Center leadership and the Iberia Medical Center Foundation to officially recognize and launch Project: Safe Schools. The program is a collaborative effort between the hospital, the Iberia Medical Center Foundation and Iberia Parish School Administration. The goal of the health and safety initiative is to provide Covid-19 prevention resources to area schools to enhance efforts in the fight against the spread of the virus. The IMC Foundation donation included CDC Covid-19 prevention educational posters, social distancing floor vinyls and "Wash Your Hands" mirror clings for school bathrooms.


Earlier in the month, a live, virtual Q/A session was arranged between Iberia Parish School RNs, key faculty members and Dr. Moses Kitakule, Pulmonologist at Iberia Medical Center.  Dr. Kitakule answered Covid-19 questions and had dialog with the nurses about best practices and CDC guidelines.


"Early partnering with the Iberia Parish School Board and Administration included the generous use of school parking lots for Covid testing and working with school system administration to provide clinical expertise.  The conversations continued and the Iberia Medical Center Foundation and the hospital wanted to 'pay it foward' because the community has been so generous to Iberia Medical Center during Covid, providing meals, resources and support," stated Dionne Viator, Iberia Medical Center CEO.


On hand for the formal donation presentation was, Mr. Elvin Pradia, Iberia Parish School Board President, Niles Romero, Principal of Jefferson Island Road and President of the Iberia Principals Association, Dionne Viator, Iberia Medical Center, CEO, Jennifer Joseph, Assistant Superintendent, Iberia Parish Schools, Rachel Gonsoulin, IMC Foundation, Dr. Kurt O'Brien, IMC Board of Commissioners, Lucette Palmiano, IMC Foundation, Amy Langlinais, IMC VP of Finance.

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