[postlink]http://radical-technology.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-technology-cuts-time-in-treating.html[/postlink]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7QJAbu66dAendofvid [starttext]by Wendy Rigby / KENS 5
kens5.com
Posted on February 28, 2011 at 3:24 PM
SAN ANTONIO -- Minutes matter when you're having a heart attack. Now, local ambulances will be using new technology to transmit real-time heart readings directly to the hospital, saving precious time.
When you are having a heart attack, fast treatment can mean the difference between life and death. No matter what hospital you're headed to in South Texas, EMS technicians will be sending real-time electrocardiograms (EKGs) to the doctor. The teams on the other end will know what you need before you ever hit the door.
"So this new technology that we're employing will allow those teams and physicians to be able to identify what the problem is and be prepared before that patient even arrives at the hospital," Dr. Craig Manifold, EMS medical director, said.
For instance, an interventional cardiologist at the hospital in New Braunfels can look at his smart phone and see the tracings of an incoming patient on the ambulance. He can mobilize his cath lab team in advance so that personnel and technology will be ready as soon as the patient arrives.
"So the quicker you can get the patient from wherever they are, from their home, their work, into the cath lab, and get that artery open, then you're going to preserve that heart muscle and that's what's critical," explained interventional cardiologist Dr. Charles Bailey.
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital downtown was the first hospital to have LifeNet in place, but eventually, 13 regional hospitals will employ this new technology.
"Time is muscle," Bailey said.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries is the primary funding source for LifeNet. It's a collaborative effort between all of the health care systems in South Texas. [endtext]
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