Heart Alert Program
Carilion’s Heart Alert program fast-tracks heart attack victims to life-saving care by bypassing lengthy routines and coordinating care between EMS providers, physicians and Carilion’s heart care professionals.
Working closely with EMS providers in local communities, Carilion’s Heart Alert program allows for a simultaneous and comprehensive response by both the ambulance crew and Carilion’s medical professionals while a heart attack victim is in route to the hospital. As a result, emergency medical care is faster and less heart damage occurs.
The speed in which a hospital can perform a heart saving procedure in a patient who’s having a heart attack begins immediately upon a patient entering the door of the health care facility. Commonly known as “door-to-balloon times,” the American College of Cardiology has set a national standard of 90 minutes or less. Carilion’s average response time for patients fast-tracked through the Heart Alert program is approximately 30 minutes faster than the national standard.
Remember, if you are experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack, do not drive yourself to the hospital. Call 9-1-1 for emergency medical care.
The Heart Alert program is based on an integrated model of heart attack care involving teams of pre-hospital and EMS providers, regional hospitals, and emergency department and cath lab personnel at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The attached document provides more detail on the Heart Alert model, evidence, and outcomes. Click here to review the model.
Watch our Heart Alert video
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