D2B LESS THAN 90 MINUTES

A recent article in HealthDay, speaks of the nationwide goal of getting patients with heart attack symptoms in the door of the hospital and to the cath lab for an ‘artery opening procedure’ within 90 minutes.

The hospital where I work is one of the hospitals across the country who has worked hard to perfect their method.

According to statistics from our hospitals’ Cardiovascular Division Director, “we have made great strides and are now working to help nearby, smaller hospitals do the same.”

The director states, “a recent study has shown that patients who suffer a heart attack, have a higher risk of in-hospital death if the ‘door to balloon time’ (D2B) is delayed.” The (D2B) again refers to the amount of time it takes for the patient to arrive at the hospital until their artery is opened in the cath lab.

He goes on to say, “the study showed the mortality rate for patients (D2B) time of 60 minutes was 3.5%, 90 minutes 4.3%, and 270 minutes 10.3%."

Obviously, the faster that artery can be opened, the better the outcome.

Our hospitals' average is 68 minutes.

Even though they continue to try to improve that time, they have now began to assist the smaller hospitals within a 30-40 mile radius to improve theirs as well. The director asks, “what about the hospital that may not have a cath lab? How do those people get cared for?”

Using the expertise of our own physicians, nurses and cardiology staff, they began to evaluate that difficult task. Imagine the challenge of caring for those patients who are 30-60 miles away from a major hospital who report they are suffering chest pain or heart attack symptoms. They must get an EKG to diagnose the cause of the chest pain, get medication, get transportation, find a cardiologist and cath lab staff…as quickly as possible.

The planning and hard work by all involved has paid off. The director reports of the two smaller hospitals they have worked with within a 30 mile radius, one now has the (D2B) down to 90 minutes. The second is just above the 90 minute level.

Great work done by great staff. Similar, I’m sure, to work going on across the country by great medical staff teams working to do their part to make all our lives a little better.


Dan