Look Who it Was Random video

Game Change in Treating Heart Attack

455 views · Published 18 July 2015 · 1:58 · Indexed 26 October 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2015 · Science & Technology

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In cases of a heart attack, speed saves lives. In recent years, hospitals slashed the time it takes to clear a blockage in a patient’s arteries and get blood flowing. In Lee County, the process starts on the ambulance ride to the hospital.

“We added an EKG station so that EMS can transfer the EKG to the emergency room prior to the patient getting here, so we can get the cath lab manned and ready to go and have the cardiologist standing by,” says Dr. Larry Hobbs, who is an ER physician with Lee Memorial Health System. 

The national standard is 90 minutes to reopen the artery.  Lee Memorial Health System reported an average door-to-balloon time of 67 minutes. Driven by proven protocols, hospitals are quick to identify heart issues and treat them in the best way possible.

“The patient might have what’s called arrhythmia, might need certain drugs to be administered or electric shock to get them out of that arrhythmia. Sometimes they might have very low blood pressure, need of certain medications or fluids to get their blood pressure up. But the concept is to get them stable and ready to get up to the cardiac catheterization lab,” says Dr. Hobbs. 

Over the past decade, the American Heart Association tracked a 38-percent decrease in deaths from cardiovascular disease; the result of better controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, but also quickening response times to acute heart attacks. 

“We know for example with coronary artery stents, in the setting of a heart attack or a threatened heart attack this is unbelievably effective therapy that is life saving and muscle saving. So it can actually prevent you from dying, it can prevent you from having disability,” says Dr. Richard Chazal, who is a cardiologist with Lee Memorial Health System. 

The fastest way to get the clock running is to call 911 with any suspected heart attack so medical teams can put their plans into action. 

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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