Level One Heart Attack Program
Cardiovascular
- About Heart and Vascular Care
- Diagnostic Testing
- Medical and Surgical Treatment
- Level One Heart Attack Program
- Level One Vascular Emergency Program
- Prevention and Disease Management
Expand/Collapse
- Understanding Heart Disease
- Echoes for Athletes
- Innovations and Research
Setting the Stage
This year an estimated 600,000 people will experience a new heart attack and another 320,000 will suffer a recurrent heart attack. That's the equivalent to the population of Indianapolis.
Unfortunately, less than one in four hospitals in America has the necessary equipment or specially trained staff to perform a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the preferred heart attack treatment.
Indiana University Health's Level One Heart Attack Program bridges this gap by coordinating with referring centers across Central Indiana to transport heart attack patients to IU Health Cardiovascular, where the specialized procedure can be performed.
Why Fast Treatment Is Important
The longer a heart attack goes untreated, the more damage occurs to the heart. Research shows that opening a blocked artery within 90 minutes of diagnosis provides the best chance for recovery.
Because the majority of U.S. hospitals don't have the services to perform a PCI, it is important for those facilities that can to coordinate a patient transport quickly and efficiently.
Coordinating Efforts
The Level One Heart Attack Program requires a high degree of coordination that starts with personnel who understand the need for a fast response and who can begin immediate medical treatment when the emergency department physician diagnoses a heart attack.
As the patient is being stabilized and prepared for the transfer by the referring center, the Level One staff coordinates air or ground transport to IU Health Cardiovascular. They also coordinate IU Health-based physicians, nurses, chaplains, admissions and security officers to ensure there are no delays.
Once at IU Health, a specialized team of physicians, nurses and technicians work to open the heart artery.
Through this integrated system of care, physicians, nurses, EMS, administrators, security, chaplains and other team members all work together to provide and coordinate the care needed in a time sensitive situation so that patients with heart attack can receive the best possible care.
About the Treatment
For most patients, the preferred treatment to open blocked heart arteries is done through a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This is also known as coronary angioplasty or coronary stenting and is performed in a specialized cardiac laboratory.
A PCI is performed by inserting a long, thin tube (catheter) with a small balloon on its tip into the affected artery. When the balloon is inflated, it presses the plaque against the artery wall and allows blood to flow more freely. Stents, which are small, mesh tubes, may also be used in conjunction with the balloon to keep the arteries open.