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AMR first responders recognized for heart attack response times

Southern Hills Hospital & Medical Center April 22, 2021

Las Vegas, NV –  Every year more than 800,000 Americans suffer a heart attack, and when a heart attack happens time is critical. It’s part of the reason the American Heart Association created the 90 minute ‘door to balloon’ guidelines, which suggests a patient’s artery needs to opened with 90 minutes for the best chance of survival.  The quicker a patient can be seen at a hospital, the better chance they have to live.

A huge part of any hospital hitting that 90 minute door to balloon guideline is the first responders transporting those patients.  

“You getting us these patients as quickly as possible has a direct correlation with survival rate,” Director of Emergency Services at Southern Hills Hospital, Kathy Millhiser said. “These first responders are nothing short of heroes.”

To honor the first responders who hit the 90 minute door to balloon time, Southern Hills Hospital held a ceremony at AMR.

“With your help out in the field, we are working together to save lives in our community,” said Cullen Brown, Chief Operating Officer at Southern Hills Hospital.  “You are changing lives one patient at a time.”

In total 16 first responders from AMR were recognized. The fastest time for Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 was Nate Collins and Jason Teague with a 38 minute door to balloon time.

Quarter 2

  • Lea Davis & Sharon Shafer 5/6/ 2021 43 Minutes
  • Tabitha Pattison & Ariel Wexler 4/17/2021 49 minutes
  • Corina Barker & Andrea Ahrendt 6/19/2021 49 minutes
  • Jason Teague & Nate Collins 6/9/2021 51 minutes
  • Leon Hall & Cody Bocoboc 4/3/2021 63 minutes

Quarter 3

  • Nate Collins & Jason Teague 7/21/2021 38 minutes
  • Nicholas Swaving 7/30/2021 52 minutes

“From the bottom of our hearts we want to thank you. We can’t say how much we appreciate you,” said Robbie Burton, Director of Cardiovascular services for Southern Hills Hospital.  

The 90 minutes is broken down into 30 minute increments:

  • 30 minutes from the time symptoms start to the time the patient has engaged medical care, a diagnosis of STEMI has been made and the cardiac cath team is alerted
  • 30 minutes from cardiology team mobilization to patient arrival in the cardiac cath lab
  • 30 minutes from the state of the procedure to opening of the blocked artery

More information on Door to Balloon time can be found on the American Heart Association website.