New Penn Heart Rescue Program™ at Shore Memorial Hospital
Program airlifts heart attack patients to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center for emergency angioplasty.
A helicopter ride is supposed to be a fun experience for passengers flying over the Grand Canyon, the volcanoes of Hawaii or Niagara Falls. However, for patients suffering from a heart attack, a ride in a helicopter has a different meaning entirely. It can mean a better chance of survival.
Through the new Penn Heart Rescue™ Program at Shore Memorial Hospital, patients who arrive at Shore Memorial’s Emergency Department with symptoms of a STEMI heart attack (a heart attack that is diagnosed by a 12-lead electrocardiogram or EKG) can be referred immediately to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
“When it comes to taking care of critically ill patients having heart attacks, time is of the essence to save heart muscle,” says David Angelastro, MD, medical director of Shore Memorial’s Emergency Department. “With the institution of this new program, patients in the Shore Memorial community have immediate access to Penn Presbyterian and the ability to receive treatment from one of the nation's leading specialists in cardiac care.”
Shore Memorial’s Emergency Department makes the initial assessment of the heart attack patient based on the results of an EKG exam. With just one phone call to the Penn Heart Rescue team, the emergency angioplasty team assembles at Penn Presbyterian and the helicopter prepares for takeoff from Shore Memorial.
While the helicopter is en route, a flight nurse and flight paramedic trained in critical care medicine, perform essential tests and prepare the patient for the emergency angioplasty. The flight team provides a level of continuing treatment similar to the care received in the emergency room. This way, no time is lost during the 25-minute helicopter ride from Somers Point, NJ to Philadelphia, PA.
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A patient is prepared for transport from Shore Memorial Hospital to the University of Pennsylvania Health System’s Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia. As part of the Heart Rescue Program™, heart attack patients can be transferred from Shore Memorial’s Emergency Department to Penn Presbyterian for emergency angioplasty. |
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“Once the diagnosis is made, the clock starts ticking. Data have shown that patients who have a coronary artery opened within 90 minutes of arrival have a better survival rate. It significantly reduces patient mortality, the faster the artery is opened,” says John Buckwalter, RN, director of the Penn Heart Rescue Program at Penn Presbyterian.
When a patient arrives at Penn Presbyterian, he or she is rushed immediately into the cardiac catheterization laboratory for the procedure. The catheterization laboratories and surgical suites are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Health professionals are available from cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, vascular medicine, pulmonary and critical care medicine, and other specialty areas as needed.
“Both hospitals’ team effort to increase survival rates for STEMI heart attack patients is a response to the significant need for the Penn Heart Rescue Program. Shore Memorial is taking a trauma center approach to helping patients where time is critical,” says Buckwalter.
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A PennSTAR helicopter leaves Shore Memorial’s helipad, transporting a heart attack patient to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia for emergency angioplasty. |
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After immediate evaluation and treatment at Penn Presbyterian, patients are able to return to Shore Memorial and their local physicians for continuation of care close to home.
“The best part of this program is that patients experiencing heart attacks no longer have to sacrifice quality of care for timely treatment. With one phone call, the Penn Heart Rescue Program™ connects our community with cardiac experts in minutes—saving lives. That excites me as an emergency physician at Shore Memorial,” says Dr. Angelastro.
For more information about Penn Heart Rescue, call 800-789-PENN (7366) or visit pennhealth.com
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