Saving Time Saves Lives

Every day, dozens of people arrive at the emergency department with chest pain. Most are not having a heart attack—but for those who are, prompt treatment is an important factor in survival and recovery. Time is of the essence because as the minutes pass, any blockage causes more and more muscle cells to die. That’s why Rhode Island Hospital recently opened a chest pain unit in its emergency department.

The unit has a cardiac catheterization lab for those requiring immediate treatment. The emergency cardiac team can treat a blocked artery in one of two ways: medication to melt the clot, or insertion of a stent to open the artery. The lab is the first in the state, and one of only a few in the country in an emergency department.

David Williams, MD, director of the cardiovascular laboratory and interventional cardiology at Rhode Island Hospital and a nationally recognized expert on cardiac stents, is excited about the new cardiac catheterization lab and how it will benefit patients. “We excel in the treatment of acute heart patients. We want to set the standard in this area. It’s a programmatic effort that goes beyond any one specialty, and it is working,”

Another first for the state is a coordinated effort that enables ambulances en route to the hospital to electronically transmit the patient’s EKG data to Rhode Island Hospital’s emergency department. As a result, the cardiac team is well prepared when the patient arrives.

The unit doesn’t limit its service to those who have acute symptoms—it’s available for all patients who are experiencing chest pain. “The chest pain unit is an alternative for low to moderate risk cardiac patients to efficiently and expertly evaluate them,” says Brian Zink, MD, physician-in-chief of emergency medicine at Rhode Island Hospital.

By applying a rapid assessment and treatment protocol to all patients with chest pain, patient conditions are identified and treated earlier. After assessment, patients may be diagnosed, treated and then admitted to the hospital, or may be diagnosed, treated and released. Some patients may require further observation in the chest pain unit. "The unit provides an added level of safety and care," says Frantz Gibbs, MD, medical director of emergency medicine at Rhode Island Hospital.

Whether or not patients are experiencing a cardiac problem, they can be assured of immediate and state-of-the-art treatment at Rhode Island Hospital.

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