Cardiologist’s ride-along with Fall River EMS turned into a life-saving coincidence – Fall River Herald News

Courtesy Saint Anne's Hospital | The Herald News

FALL RIVER Several weeks ago, Dr. Sadip Pant, medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Saint Annes Hospital, joined a team of Fall River Emergency Medical Service providers for several hours of their shift. Its a tradition that Saint Annes Hospital leaders have kept for many years to show their appreciation for local emergency medical responders during National EMS Week: riding along with the ambulance team to get to know the crew and offer thanks for their role in patient care.

One day earlier, Saint Annes Hospital President Michael Bushell rode with EMS as they answered routine calls. As luck would have it the next day, Dr. Pant was riding with EMS providers when the ambulance got a call to respond to a possible heart attack.

Leslie Reed, of Fall River, felt a painful pressure in her chest and started to feel lightheaded. When her symptoms didnt improve, she called 911.

When the EMS team arrived, they quickly jumped into action.

The EMS team worked very efficiently to start her care, Dr. Pant says. Even if I hadnt been there, EMS have systems in place to alert the hospital so that staff are prepared when the patient arrives. I was able to call Saint Annes Cardiac Catheterization lab directly to ensure they were ready to go when we arrived.

When they arrived at the hospital, Leslies heart stopped. She was rushed to the Cardiac Catheterization lab, a specially equipped area staffed with experts in heart attack care. Staff revived her, but her heart stopped again three more times.

Finally, staff were able to stabilize Leslie, and she began to regain consciousness. She was treated without the need for surgery and went home later that week after recovering at the hospital.

The coordination between our hospital staff and EMS is so important, Dr. Pant says. Together, we were able to deliver care very quickly. Every minute counts when it comes to a heart attack. If Leslie had not called 911, or if we had wasted even a minute, there may have been a very different outcome.

Saint Annes Hospitals Cardiac Catheterization Lab provides 24/7 emergency heart attack treatment in a state-of-the-art facility, including immediate care for patients experiencing a heart attack due to a clot in a coronary artery. Learn more at saintanneshospital.org/cardiology.

The American Heart Association notes that some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Calling 911 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Be sure to call 911 if you experience:

Other signs. Other possible signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.

For other lifesaving tips from the American Heart Association, visit https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack

Continued here:
Cardiologist's ride-along with Fall River EMS turned into a life-saving coincidence - Fall River Herald News