Level One Cardiac Program

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The Level One Cardiac program works to eliminate delays in getting heart attack patients into the cardiac catheterization laboratory for a life-saving intervention that can reduce heart muscle damage and help save their life.

The Level One Cardiac program works to eliminate delays in getting heart attack patients into the cardiac catheterization laboratory for a life-saving intervention that can reduce heart muscle damage and help save their life.

Throughout the country, the goal is to open a blocked artery within 90 minutes from arrival. United Hospital's average time of getting heart attack patients into the cardiac catheterization lab was 43 minutes from arriving at the hospital at the end of 2012. In addition, the Level One Cardiac Care Program also uses therapeutic hypothermia, an advanced treatment of cooling the body, to stop the progression of injury during the 24 to 48 hours after a heart attack.

The Level One Cardiac Care Program covers the east metro and western Wisconsin and involves partnerships with several EMS organizations, regional hospitals and emergency departments in the area. Primary and Urgent Care providers including Apple Valley Medical Center, Allina Health clinics are also involved.