The American Heart Association (AHA) announced a new initiative to strengthen emergency response systems for cardiac and stroke emergencies by addressing critical gaps in communication and technology use. Supported by T-Mobile, the initiative will convene EMS agency leadership, hospital executives, and public health partners in 13 cities to identify where technology can be better utilized and produce recommendations for improvement. The effort is part of the AHA's Nation of Lifesavers movement, which aims to double survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030.
When someone experiences cardiac arrest, a heart attack, or a stroke, reliable communication between dispatch, EMS crews, and receiving hospitals can mean the difference between life and death. Yet as mobile technologies—from telehealth platforms to mobile stroke units—rapidly transform emergency response, critical gaps in systems of care can arise, leaving lives in the balance. To mark National EMS Week, the AHA is launching this initiative to address those gaps directly and foster the best use of technology in emergency response systems of care.
Through regional system of care forums in each of the 13 target markets—Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco—the AHA will gather insights into emergency communication processes. These forums will generate market-level insights that feed into national learning, comparative data analysis, and actionable improvement strategies. 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.
"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 Kacey Kronenfeld, M.D., FAEMS, volunteer co-chair of the AHA's EMS Task Force. "The American Heart Association is uniquely positioned to lead this work, in its role as a national convener shaping next-generation emergency response."
The initiative will be integrated into the AHA's Mission: Lifeline® EMS program, which engages more than 1,000 EMS agencies and builds on an established national network of recognition and improvement. With T-Mobile's financial support, the AHA also will work to expand participation in Mission: Lifeline EMS recognition nationwide, encouraging more EMS agencies to meet the program's standards for guideline-directed care in cardiac and stroke emergencies.
"Connectivity saves lives—and that's not just a tagline for us," said Rod Cruz, vice president of growth and emerging businesses, T-Mobile. "Supporting the American Heart Association in improving how EMS teams, dispatchers, and hospitals communicate is a natural extension of that commitment."
The announcement highlights the importance of leveraging technology to close gaps in emergency response, with the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients experiencing cardiac and stroke emergencies. By fostering collaboration among key stakeholders and using data-driven insights, the initiative aims to create a more seamless and effective system of care.
