Cardiology

Mills-Peninsula has received official designation from San Mateo County as a STEMI (ST segment elevation myocardial infarction) receiving center. This is significant because now patients experiencing the most serious type of heart attack can be sent to the Mills-Peninsula Medical Center to receive treatment. Mills-Peninsula is one of only a few hospitals in the area to receive this designation. 

The STEMI project is a collaboration of the county, other hospitals in the community and emergency medical services (EMS) to ensure heart attack patients receive the highest standard of cardiac care. This coordinated effort results in a more rapid time to treatment for this most serious form of heart attack. The official start date of the program was May 1.

“We are proud of the care we provide to our patients. For many years, we have diligently worked to improve and expedite the care we provide to our patients,” said Mills-Peninsula Cardiovascular Advance Practice Nurse Sarah Newsom Healy, R.N., CNS, N.P.

“Our progress is evident in our excellent Door-to-Balloon times. Patients who are experiencing a STEMI will be treated in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory with a stent or other intervention within 90 minutes to improve their long-term outcome and save lives.”

Teams in the Emergency Department, Catheterization Lab and in other units work together and have consistently exceeded expectations for rapid response and excellent care, even achieving treatment in 30 minutes or less. (Ninety minutes is the recognized standard to prevent death and improve the long-term outcome.)

“We will continue to work with the county by meeting regularly, exchanging data, participating in community education and communicating on processes that can improve the outcomes for all patients we serve,” said Maria Elena Healy, R.N., CNS, CDE, Mills-Peninsula cardiovascular advance practice nurse.

New cardiac care techniques and technology are saving lives now at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center.

Heart attack survival rates are improving, thanks to advanced technology and knowledge.

Heart ailments are generally divided into two types – irregular heart rhythms or mechanical blockages. A rapid heart rhythm occurs when electrical impulses cause an abrupt loss of heart function called a cardiac arrest. Cardiologists who deal with these concerns are electrophysiologists.

Blockages, usually caused by a buildup in an artery of fatty deposits called plaque, cut off blood supply to the heart muscle, which leads to a heart attack. Specialists called interventional cardiologists deal with these conditions. Read More about How Technology Boosts Heart Attack Survival Rates