A heart attack is medically termed an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A heart attack is defined as the rapid death of a portion of the heart muscle due to the interruption of blood flow to that portion of the heart. The interruption of blood flow occurs when one of the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle becomes blocked. The blockage is typically started by a gradual buildup of deposits of fat-like substances called plaque. When plaque suddenly tears or ruptures, it causes a blood clot to form, which completely blocks the artery.
Heart Attack -- The Seven Quality and Patient Safety Measures
1. Aspirin at hospital arrival
When a heart attack occurs, "time is muscle." The longer the heart muscle is without blood supply, the more damage occurs to the heart muscle. Therefore, when a heart attack occurs patients need to receive rapid treatment. One of these rapid treatments is aspirin. Aspirin can help keep more blood clots from forming in the coronary artery, and can help dissolve blood clots. The use of aspirin upon arrival at the hospital for heart attack patients results in a reduction in death and complication rates. The following graph exhibits our performance in providing this treatment for heart attack patients, and the national rates reported by The Joint Commission.
2. Aspirin at hospital discharge
Long-term daily aspirin helps prevent further heart attacks. Therefore it is important that heart attack patients be prescribed long-term aspirin at the time of hospital discharge. The following graph exhibits our performance in providing this treatment, and the national rates reported by The Joint Commission.
3. Beta blocker at hospital arrival
A beta blocker is a medication that reduces the heart’s tendency to beat faster, and also lowers blood pressure, reduces chest pain, and improves heart failure. The use of a beta blocker upon arrival at the hospital for heart attack patients also results in a reduction in death and complication rates. The following graph exhibits our performance in providing this treatment for heart attack patients, and the national rates reported by The Joint Commission.
4. Beta blocker at hospital discharge
Long-term daily use of beta blockers helps prevent further heart attacks. Therefore, it is important that heart attack patients be prescribed long-term beta blockers at the time of hospital discharge. The following graph exhibits our performance in providing this treatment, and the national rates reported by The Joint Commission.
5. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) for left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in heart attack patients.
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) are medicines used to treat heart attacks and heart failure. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) refers to a weakened heart muscle that is sometimes a complication of a heart attack. ACEI therapy for patients that have left ventricular systolic dysfunction reduces death and complication rates. The following graph exhibits our performance in providing this treatment, and the national rates reported by The Joint Commission.
6. Adult smoking cessation counseling for heart attack patients
Smoking can cause heart attacks and other health problems. Patients who receive counseling regarding smoking cessation are more likely to quit. The following graph exhibits our performance in providing this counseling to heart attack patients, and the national rates reported by The Joint Commission.
7. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) refers to procedures to open the blocked coronary arteries that cause heart attacks. This is usually done by balloon angioplasty. Since “time is muscle,†the sooner a patient can receive PCI treatment and have the blood supply to the heart muscle restored, the better the health outcomes for the patient. The following graph exhibits our performance in providing this treatment to heart attack patients within the guideline of less than 120 minutes after arrival at the hospital, and the national rates reported by The Joint Commission.
This graph exhibits the average (mean) time from arrival to PCI treatment at Stormont-Vail HealthCare, compared with the national average time reported by The Joint Commission.
Some of the information is taken from Specifications Manual for National Hospital Quality Measures, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal.
