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Do you know the best way to survive a heart attack? According to a recent article published in The Wall Street Journal, it's to follow three simple steps. Dr. Ronald McKechnie, a cardiologist who practices with Cardiovascular Associates, Ltd., and who is credentialed at Chesapeake Regional, agrees.
Simple steps save lives
- Recognize the symptoms.
- Call 911.
- Chew an aspirin while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.
"Recognizing the symptoms of a heart attack and doing something about it quickly is the most important thing a person can do in the situation," said McKechnie. "Time is muscle and the longer the time a patient delays in contacting emergency personnel, the more likely it is that their heart muscle will be permanently injured or scarred."
As an accredited Chest Pain Center, find out what Chesapeake Regional is doing to guarantee prompt care for patients.
Accredited Chest Pain Center – Quick Responses Save Lives
Though he doesn't remember it now, Bradley White called 911 as soon as his chest pains started. At 10:15 a.m., the 
911 operator received his call, and an emergency medical service crew was dispatched. That's when the operator heard the Chesapeake man collapse.
Within 65 minutes, White had arrived at Chesapeake Regional's Emergency Department, been transported to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, diagnosed with "acute coronary syndrome" and a stent was being placed in his heart. Within hours, he was recovering comfortably in a hospital bed.
That speed saved his life. It was made possible largely because Chesapeake Regional had implemented a set of carefully orchestrated system of checks and balances as part of its accredited Chest Pain Center. That process takes patients from the 911 call or walk in at the ER, to treatment.
Accredited, dependable and accessible
Chesapeake Regional's Chest Pain Center is fully accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. To earn the designation, nationally recognized experts visited Chesapeake Regional to verify that heart attack patients are receiving the most advanced and best possible care. The society has strict criteria and only accredits those facilities that closely follow the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association's recommendations.
When it comes to chest pain, it's all about speed. And hospitals see a lot of patients with chest pain. It is the most common reason they come to the ER.
Whether you think you're having a heart attack or not, it's best to seek medical attention when experiencing unusual symptoms. "Identifying symptoms can sometimes be difficult for people," said Dr. Ronald McKechnie, a cardiologist who practices with Cardiovascular Associates, Ltd. "What they need to keep in mind is if they have any unusual symptoms without an explanation, they need to call 911 immediately," said McKechnie, who is credentialed at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center.
Symptoms of a heart attack can vary from the traditional image of chest pain, shortness of breath and pain in the left arm or jaw to indigestion, nausea, profuse sweating and flulike symptoms.
If patients experience any of the above symptoms, they need to get to an ER right away. While it is preferable for patients to arrive via ambulance to ensure care starts as early as possible, if they arrive on their own, they should announce "I think I'm having a heart attack!" for immediate attention. Getting patients through the door and to our services as quickly as possible saves lives. We are conveniently located just minutes from major traffic arteries.
Get directions here.
The process in place
The process begins with the 911 call. As soon as the EMS crew arrives, hospital staff is alerted to the patient's status, thanks to a first responder electrocardiogram (EKG) system that is installed on board the ambulances. An EKG measures the heart's electrical activity. EMS paramedics hook up the EKG systems on site, providing employees back at the hospital a look into what is going on in the field.
"Calling 911 means there will be emergency personnel on hand to perform CPR and start medications quicker," said McKechnie. "And having an EKG system in the ambulances allows for doctors, nurses and technologists to immediately begin assessing and preparing for the patient's arrival."
This cooperative effort between the Chesapeake Fire Department and CRMC was partially funded by the Chesapeake Regional Health Foundation.
An abnormal EKG alerts the ED and cardiology teams. Doctors, nurses and technologists immediately begin assessing and preparing for the patient's arrival. Once there, the patient goes directly to the cath lab to receive such procedures as balloon angioplasty or stenting.
In White's case, he needed cardiac stenting, a procedure that opens the blockage causing problems. Physicians inserted a floppy wire through a catheter in his leg to cross the blockage. This was followed by inserting a balloon over the wire to widen the breakthrough and, finally, a mesh-like, medicine-coated wire, or stent, is placed into the original blockage to keep the blockage stabilized.
Early access equals success
With the rapid field assessment and interventional treatments in place, staff in the Emergency Department, cath lab and on the ambulance work in concert to ensure quick and early access for the patient's treatment.
So far, they've been highly successful. The national "door-to-balloon time" standard is 90 minutes or less. Chesapeake General's staff is often less than that.
Having AED systems on ambulances and in many police vehicles gets lifesaving devices to the patients sooner. First responder EKG systems on board means patients have access to even more lifesaving technology.
White, for one, is glad the process and technology were in place. When he needed it the most. Today, nearly, he is back at work and well on his way to staying healthy.
"If I hadn't received care that fast, I wouldn't be here," he admitted. "I'm so thankful."
Quick cardiac care is lifesaving
From the moment a 911call is made, an intricate system of steps is in place for patients with chest pain to receive the care they need:
- The 911 call is received.
- Chesapeake Regional Medical Center's Emergency Department is alerted.
- EMS crews arrive, check vitals and attach a first responder EKG.
- An abnormal EKG sets off an alarm in the ED.
- The Cardiac Cath Team prepares for the patient's arrival.
- The patient arrives in the ED and is assessed in the Chest Pain Unit.
- If necessary, the Cardiac Cath team takes the patient to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab.
- The patient undergoes an angiography.
- Cardiologists work to stent the patient's artery.
- The patient is transferred to the ICU after a successful procedure.
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