[OCT. 4, 2005]
A new process at Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital is saving lives. Prairie Cardiovascular Group came to ALMH
last year proposing a new emergency procedures program and asked if
the local hospital would jump on board. Stat Heart has changed the
success percentages of emergency heart patients since it "went live"
on Dec. 18, 2004, ALMH emergency manager Becky Ferguson said.
At the heart of its success, no pun intended, is communications with
transfer hospitals and initiating timely medications in advance of
medical procedures patients will receive when they arrive there.
Patients entering the emergency department receive prompt attention
that starts with the standard assessment. With patients presenting
heart distress symptoms, it's a race against the clock. Every minute
is counted from the moment they enter the hospital doors.
First-line drugs are started and the patient is given a choice of
transfer hospitals. The patient can choose between Memorial and St.
John's in Springfield, according to their health insurance coverage
or their preference. The receiving hospitals and doctors are
consulted. If there will be a delay of 15 minutes once the patient
reaches the other end, ALMH will administer thrombolytic
(clot-buster) drugs to put the patient in line for the next
procedures they will receive.
Treating the patient in the set time has proven easy for the ALMH
health care workers. Ferguson said they are usually standing and
waiting until the next drug can be given and eyeing their watches to
be able to send the patient out the door. The patient is no more
than 30 minutes in ALMH before being sent out via Logan County
Paramedics for a 28-minute ride to Springfield.
In the first 10 minutes of entering the receiving hospital, the
patient will receive the next set of drugs and be seen by a
specialist. Then they are on to the cath lab in less than 30 minutes
from the moment they came in that door.
Six other hospitals have joined the program. ALMH continues to
see the best results, and that seems to be related to the ground
transport. Other hospitals often must rely on helicopter
transportation, taking more time, Ferguson said.
ALMH has handled 10 of the 38 Stat Heart program patients to
date. The initial prediction was to reduce mortality to 6 percent.
It has exceeded expectations, with zero mortality.
