Mar 3, 2009 5:39 pm US/Central
Loyola Expands Emergency Cardiology Staff
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
It's a staggering number: 653, 562. That's how many people in Illinois had a heart attack or other cardiovascular attack from 2005 to 2007. It's a life-threatening situation, and seconds count. As CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports that's why one hospital is trying to make sure patients see a specialist as soon as they roll through the door.
Joyce Moss was having a heart attack.
"I had chest pain," said Joyce Moss. "My left side went numb, I started to profusely sweat."
The intervention at Loyola was quick - it took doctors just 42 minutes to clear blocked arteries. The method was balloon angioplasty.
"We will actually inflate the balloon, and that expands the vessel," said Director of Interventional Cardiology Dr. Fred Leya, Loyola University Health Systems.
The result: oxygen to the heart before permanent damage was done.
Medical standards say door-to-balloon time should be 90 minutes.
Loyola more than hit that in Joyce's case, and did so about 67 percent of the time last quarter.
"What we are about to do now, we are saying that's not good enough," Dr. Leya said.
"Loyola has really taken a tremendously important step in reviewing their data, determining it wasn't at the level they wanted to perform and they're taking extraordinary steps to improve it," said Midwest Affiliate President David Cooke, American Heart Association.
The hours from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. are the target. Right now, between that time staffers get a call to come in and do angioplasties.
"In middle of night depending on weather, snow and ice, the reality is that they cannot frequently arrive in 30 minutes," Dr. Leya said.
Having the team in house 24-7 will prevent any treatment delays.
When paramedics call with field EKG reports, cardiologists will be ready and waiting for those overnight patients who need speed, too.
"Time is everything," said Director of Emergency Medical Services Mark Cichon, Loyola Healthcare Systems.
So the question is why aren't more hospitals doing this if every second counts?
"That's a large commitment that takes a tremendous effort on everybody's part," Cichon said.
It is costing Loyola $2 million a year to implement the program. Doctors say early intervention will actually make up for longer term healthcare costs. Three other hospitals were contacted to see if they would be following in Loyola's footsteps; they are not.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
The Tattooed Ladies of Hollywood
Click to enlarge
Snow Clobbers Chicago For Evening Rush Hour 42 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments