ALPENA – MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena has received approval to offer a special treatment for serious heart attacks, known as STEMI. This new program will help to quickly identify patients with this severe form of heart attack and get them the care they need.
STEMI stands for ST-elevation myocardial infarction, which happens when a blood clot completely blocks a heart artery. This can cause parts of the heart muscle to start dying. The medical center and its EMS teams have developed a Regional STEMI Alert Program to quickly spot these cases.
Patients with STEMI can be taken directly to MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena. This is a big deal because it’s the closest center that can provide this special treatment. Once there, patients are moved quickly to a lab where doctors work to restore blood flow to the heart.
The program also trains local emergency services to recognize the signs of a STEMI heart attack. Partners include services from Alcona County, Alpena City, and others. These trained teams can test for STEMI as soon as they arrive on the scene and get patients to the hospital faster.
Daniel Harber, a cardiologist at the center, emphasizes that quick treatment is crucial. Their goal is to get the blocked artery open within 90 minutes of the patient’s arrival. This fast action increases the chance of recovery without long-term damage to the heart.
MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena is also upgrading its facilities and adding more heart doctors to its team. The center encourages people to call 911 immediately if they suspect a heart attack. The first hour is crucial for effective treatment.
For nearly 10 years, MyMichigan Medical Center in Midland and Gladwin has been using a similar program and has won awards for its service.
For more information on this life-saving program, you can visit www.mymichigan.org/stemi.
