Mercy Health Partners News

            The ERs at St. Mary’s Medical Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center North and Baptist Hospital West have installed new equipment to receive the 12-lead EKG information from the ambulances that will help to reduce the time to treatment for most heart attack patients, which will help to save heart function and lives.

            “This is a very important improvement in emergency medical services for the people of Knoxville and Knox County,” said Dr. Jerry Sanders, Mercy Health Partners chief medical officer.  “Mercy salutes the many organizations that contributed time and money to make this happen.  It is a good example of these groups working together to improve the quality of life in our community,” Dr. Sanders said.

            Dr. Sanders was also the project manager for the new 12-lead EKG transmission program for the East Tennessee Quality Alliance of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine, the organization that spearheaded the effort to get this state-of-the-art technology installed in Rural Metro ambulances and area hospital’s ERs.

            Dr. Sanders said that getting treatment started for people suffering a cardiac event is critical to saving lives.  “I also encourage people to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and to not delay in seeking help by calling 911,” Dr. Sanders added. 

            The American Heart Association lists the following as some of the early symptoms of a heart attack:

• Most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort

• Chest discomfort (pain, pressure or squeezing) in center of chest that lasts more that a few minutes, or that goes away or comes back
  
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
  
• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
  
• Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
  
• Women may be more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea/ vomiting and back or jaw pain as heart attack symptoms

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Contact:  Craig Griffith – 865-545-7565