New Technology Helping To Save Lives
By: Morgan Bond
Updated: March 29, 2010
New standards set by the American Heart Association are requiring paramedics to do more than they ever have before.
"We are held to a higher standard now," said Neil White, Director of Operations for Metrocare.
Now, whenever they arrive at a call when someone is having a heart attack, they have to perform an EKG and relay that information as to the hospital. They have 90 minutes to from the time they arrive on scene to get the patient into surgery if they are having a heart attack.
Metrocare has had the portable EKG machines in the Ambulances for the last 5 years.
"The old saying is time is muscle. The longer they go in that heart attack the more damage is done to the heart," White said.
Once the hospital is informed about the patient, they can then prepare. Getting the necessary doctors, nurses, and equipment into place.
"People will call in and say my arm was really hurting or I was felling really weak for a few days. Then we will get a 12 lead on them and they are actually having a heart attack," White said.
The old standard was 90 minutes from the time the patient arrives at the hospital, to get them into surgery. Now, thanks to this new technology, paramedics can shave a large chunk of time off that.
"We are held to a higher standard now," said Neil White, Director of Operations for Metrocare.
Now, whenever they arrive at a call when someone is having a heart attack, they have to perform an EKG and relay that information as to the hospital. They have 90 minutes to from the time they arrive on scene to get the patient into surgery if they are having a heart attack.
Metrocare has had the portable EKG machines in the Ambulances for the last 5 years.
"The old saying is time is muscle. The longer they go in that heart attack the more damage is done to the heart," White said.
Once the hospital is informed about the patient, they can then prepare. Getting the necessary doctors, nurses, and equipment into place.
"People will call in and say my arm was really hurting or I was felling really weak for a few days. Then we will get a 12 lead on them and they are actually having a heart attack," White said.
The old standard was 90 minutes from the time the patient arrives at the hospital, to get them into surgery. Now, thanks to this new technology, paramedics can shave a large chunk of time off that.
