Basic HTML Version
Raising the bar
Methodist Richardson Medical Center and the Richardson Fire
Department teamed up in 2009 to significantly improve heart attack
outcomes. The goal was to reduce door-to-balloon times, the time
between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and completing treatment in
the cardiac catheterization lab.
Recently, though, the team raised its standards, feeling that a
more accurate measurement was tracking SOAR times. SOAR stands
for “symptom onset through arterial reperfusion,” and its times
are measured fromwhen a patient’s chest pain starts to when the
interventional cardiologist opens up the blocked artery.
On Wednesday, Aug. 24, Methodist Richardson and the Richardson
Fire Department were recognized for having the fastest total combined
patient treatment time based on data submitted to the American Heart
Association (AHA) Dallas Caruth Initiative during first quarter 2011.
EdWoyewodzic, 66, experienced and recognized the symptoms
associated with a cardiac event, and controlled coordination among
himself, emergency medical services, and hospital staff achieved a
SOAR time of only 43 minutes. This response time is significantly lower
than Texas’ median reported response time of 171 minutes.
This is a prime example of the success possible when patients
recognize heart attack symptoms, quickly call 911, and let health
care providers coordinate immediate, lifesaving care en route to
the hospital.
Living life to the fullest
Six weeks after the heart attack, Woyewodzic was out
working in his yard again.
“One hundred ten degrees didn’t bother me one bit,” he
says. “I’m actually a lot better than I was before the attack.”
He has lost almost 20 pounds, walks every day, and enjoys
eating healthy.
“This was a good thing that happened to me, and I
thank Dr. Nguyen, Methodist Richardson, and Richardson
emergency medical services for working together to save my life.”
Go to
www.MethodistHealthSystem.org/Cardio
to read about
heart attack warning signs, to find a heart specialist, and to learn
how Methodist Richardson’s heart care is shining bright.
Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff
are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System.
Arrival atMethodist Richardson
Nhan Nguyen, MD, an independently
practicing interventional cardiologist
and chief of staff at Methodist
Richardson, was waiting outside the
emergency department doors when
Woyewodzic arrived.
Woyewodzic recalls Dr. Nguyen
introducing himself and then rushing
him down the hall along with the rest of
the medical team.
“The paramedics were there, and a
lady was praying over me,” he says. “It
was amazing to see how they all worked
together. Wow, it was so fast.”
Cardiaccatheterization complete
From when Woyewodzic passed through the
emergency department doors to when Dr. Nguyen
placed the balloon in his blocked artery, the total
time was 18 minutes — the hospital’s fastest door-
to-balloon time to date and 72 minutes ahead of
the national goal of 90 minutes.
“I remember the staff shouting with joy,
‘18 minutes!’ and I celebrated with them,”
Woyewodzic says with laughter.
Cardiac catheterization involves inserting a thin,
flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel and
threading it to the heart.
“In Mr. Woyewodzic’s case, we used a balloon
catheter, which opens the blocked artery and allows
for a greater amount of oxygenated blood to flow to
the heart,” Dr. Nguyen says. “Time is muscle, and
each minute we let pass by is time of reduced blood
flow to the heart.”
info
The hospital’s fastest to date and 72 minutes ahead of the national goal of 90 minutes
Methodist Richardson Medical Center
•
❁
Winter 2011 – 2012
9