EMA Facilitates Hospitals Establishment of STEMI Program at Encino-Tarzana Medical Center
A STEMI or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is a heart attack caused by the sudden, total blockage of coronary artery. Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of a STEMI is imperative and must occur before life-saving treatment can be obtained. According to the American College of Cardiology, it is now well established that the optimal strategy for opening a blocked artery during a myocardial infraction is an emergency coronary angioplasty performed rapidly at an accredited institution.
As of January 1, 2007, Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center (ETMRC) – Tarzana Campus is proud to announce that the State Department of Health Services and Los Angeles Country Emergency Medical Services Agency have designated us as one of several hospitals in Los Angeles Country, which make up a new network of STEMI Receiving Centers (SRC). Because of our SRC designation, paramedics will be bringing STEMI patients diagnosed in the community preferentially to the Tarzana Emergency Department where we are capable of rapidly and effectively caring for them.
As a STEMI Receiving Center, the Tarzana Emergency Department, in conjunction with our local paramedics, is able to rapidly mobilize resources 24/7, which include the:
. Coronary Catheterization Team
. Interventional Cardiologists
. Cardiothoracic Surgeons
Patients who are at risk of a STEMI should be advised on how to identify their symptoms and the importance of immediately calling 9-1-1. “Our emergency physicians and the EMS first responders work cooperatively in order to diagnose a STEMI on the field, ” says Scott Brewster, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., Co-Director of Emergency Medicine, ETRMC. “Paramedics in our area are trained to perform a 12 lead ECG on suspected STEMI patients. They are then able to send this crucial information directly to the Emergency Physician at ETMRC through an electronic patient care reporting system called LIFENET EMS.”
The Tarzana Emergency Department then activates our “CODE 54” protocol for treating STEMI patients. The “CODE 54” protocol was specifically designed to streamline quality emergent STEMI care in order to effectuate the standards set by the AHA “Get with the Guidelines Program” and the JCAHO “AMI Core Measure Set.”
“Once a “CODE 54” is called in the emergency department, the interventional cardiologist and coronary catheterization team are immediately called to the patient’s bedside,” says Dr. Brewster.
“The mission of STEMI Receiving Center designation and “CODE 54” team is to work cooperatively with the paramedics to rapidly open arteries and restore blood flow of the STEMI patient in less than 90 minutes from symptom onset. This designation demonstrates ETRMC’s continued dedication to provide our community with some of the highest quality cardiovascular care available on Los Angeles.”