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FMC Recognizes EMS Personnel with STEMI Emmys for Rapid Response Times
Fairfield Medical Center
Public Relations Specailst
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LANCASTER, Ohio (June 6, 2012) – To recognize the efforts of emergency medical services (EMS) and their commitment in providing excellence in the care of patients having a heart attack, Fairfield Medical Center presented two local fire departments with a “STEMI Emmy” on May 22.
From left, Dr. Mehdi Qamar, FMC interventional cardiologist; Nate James, Richland Fire Department firefighter; Kevin Dailey, Richland Township fire chief; Larry Ruh, Richland Fire Department firefighter; Desarae Belcher, FMC Cath Lab RN; and Scott Baker, Richland Fire Department Lieutenant.
From left, Melinda Van Buren, FMC Emergency Department assistant manager; Mark Sedor, FMC Emergency Department manager; Rhonda Wells, FMC CPC coordinator; Dave Hammond, Lancaster Fire Department medic; Dave Jenkins, Lancaster Fire Department medic; Jimmy Malone, Lancaster Fire Department medic; and Regina Morgan, FMC Emergency Department RN.
STEMI refers to an ST elevated myocardial infarction, meaning heart attack. The national standard for the time of first medical contact to opening the blocked artery is 90 minutes. “This means that the artery is opened 90 minutes from the time the EMS squad first arrives to the patient’s home to the time the patient arrives to FMC,” said FMC Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Shantanu Sinha. “Meeting these guidelines provides for better outcomes with the patient and less heart muscle death occurs.”
One award was given to EMS providers within Lancaster city limits and one to a team outside of Lancaster city limits. The Lancaster City EMS crew that received this award includes David Jenkins, Dave Hammond and Jimmy Malone. This crew’s first medical contact to balloon time was 42 minutes. The patient received lifesaving medical therapy and the patient’s EKG was transmitted to FMC to alert the Emergency Department of the patient’s arrival. The Lancaster crew’s response time allowed Dr. Sinha to anticipate the patient’s arrival in the Emergency Department. The EMS crew beat national guidelines in medical therapies and on-scene time giving the patient better outcomes.
The award for outside city limits went to Richland Township EMS. This crew consisted of Kevin Dailey, Nate James and Larry Ruh. This crew was recognized for detecting a STEMI on the patient’s EKG before arriving at the hospital. Such a response allowed for transmission of the EKG so the patient could bypass the Emergency Department and go directly to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab to open up the artery. Their time was 46 minutes. They provided lifesaving medical therapies based on national guidelines. The patient was discharged to home only two days after receiving a stent to the blocked artery without complications.
“EMS providers are the backbone to the community emergency medical needs. Working closely and recognizing their efforts are vital to giving high quality care for patients with chest pain,” said Chest Pain Center Coordinator Rhonda Wells, R.N.
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