Boone Health is a Designated Level 1 STEMI Center

Heart Disease, which includes heart attacks, is the leading cause of death in the United States.

What is a STEMI Heart Attack?

A STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardioal Infarction) is a type of heart attack that can be identified on an EKG. It is caused by a prolonged blockage of blood supply to the heart and requires immediate medical intervention.

A STEMI is visible on an EKG and generally more severe. A non-STEMI, although still a heart attack, is not detectable on an EKG and may have subtler symptoms. Both require prompt medical attention, but STEMIs typically involve more immediate and aggressive intervention.

What happens in the hospital when the STEMI team is needed?

When a patient presents with chest pain, the emergency department preforms an EKG to detect ST elevation. If STEMI is diagnosed, an emergency protocol is activated. Notifications go out to the cardiac catheterization lab, ICU and to our interventional cardiologist. The emergency room doctor evaluates the need for immediate interventions like intubation. The patient is quickly moved to the cardiac catheterization lab to unblock the coronary artery and then will be transferred to the ICU. Recovery times vary from next-day discharge to a few days, depending on the individual case.

Why is it important to patients that Boone Health is a Level 1 STEMI center?

Having a specialized STEMI team is critical because these types of heart attacks are life-threatening. A trained team ensures swift diagnosis and treatment, which improves patient outcomes. Effective STEMI care involves coordination between several departments and having the trained staff is essential to quickly diagnosing and treating the heart attack.

Do not delay if you experience chest pain. Delays in treatment can lead to irreversible heart damage. TIME IS HEART!

Boone Health is a Certified Level 1 Stroke Center

Stroke is the 5th cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States.

What is a stroke?

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is impaired, causing brain cells to die. A stroke can be caused by a blood clot (thrombosis), a blockage (embolism), or bleeding (hemorrhage).

Strokes can be classified into two main categories:

1. Ischemic Stroke: An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies the brain becomes blocked, and blood is unable to flow to part of the brain. The brain cells and tissues begin to die within minutes from lack of oxygen and nutrients. 87% of strokes are ischemic strokes.

2. Hemorrhagic Stroke: Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel that supplies the brain ruptures and bleeds. When an artery bleeds into the brain, blood compresses the surrounding brain tissue and brain cells do not receive oxygen and nutrients. 13% of strokes are hemorrhagic strokes.

Treatment

Immediate treatment is key to limiting the extent of brain injury resulting from stroke. Boone Health offers a full spectrum of services to treat those who have suffered from a stroke, including neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, an echo vascular lab, and both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation.

Why is it important to patients that Boone Health is a Level 1 Stroke Center?

Boone Health understands the importance of rapid, accurate treatment to prevent death and preserve brain function. Patients arriving here are treated by specially trained neurology specialists who are on the forefront of new and specialized stroke treatments, giving more patients a better chance against this debilitating condition.

Do not delay if you are experiencing stroke symptoms. Delays in treatment can lead to irreversible brain damage. TIME IS BRAIN!

By Colton Downing