Saving Lives: Heart Attack Care
Roughly every 65 seconds an American dies of a heart attack, according to the American Heart Association. This prompted SJRMC to spearhead a system to give heart attack patients the best possible chance.
913 CODE STEMI is an activation system for heart attack emergencies that requires coordination between key hospital departments and our local EMS community.
That effort begins with the EMS teams and starts with an EKG to measure heart activity. Next, the team notifies the ER of a STEMI coming in (ST-elevated myocardial infarction, or M.I.). As the patient is in route, the EKG result is faxed from the ambulance to the ER.
Based on the call and EKG, the ER physician can activate the 913 STEMI code. With the push of one button, the physician alerts the Cardiac CathLab team.
In the lab, a tiny balloon is inflated at the site of the blockage, in order to reopen clogged arteries. Studies show that this procedure, known as PCI (percutaneous cardiac intervention), can increase a patient's chance of surviving a heart attack by 60%. But only if that is done within 90 minutes of the patient's arrival.
Due to the 913 code STEMI, SJRMC continually meets and exceeds that standard. Monthly, each heart attack case is evaluated in order to determine where improvements can be made.
One Patient's Story
John Snyder of Niles, Michigan took advantage of some mild winter weather to get some exercise - a four-mile bike ride through the rolling hills of southwest Michigan.
Back at home, sitting at his computer, John noticed some unusual tightness in his chest. Five minutes later it was unbearable.
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