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The Beat Goes On
Information That’s Vital Bam! A car crash lands you or a family member in the Emergency Department. You wish you had all the details being asked of you. Oh no! Your husband is having chest pains, and the paramedics need to know which prescriptions/dosages he’s taking. You’re so stressed you can’t remember. Make it easy on yourself and have the information you’ll need in an emergency at your fingertips. Request an I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) card, fill it out and carry it in your wallet or billfold. You might want to keep it handy on the refrigerator, too. By filling out an I.C.E. card for you and your family members before you need it, you’ll have:
> Your emergency contacts. > Your physician information, including phone number.
> Your insurance providers. > A list of your primary medical conditions.
> A list of your current medications and supplements.
> Drug allergies. To request a free I.C.E. card, please call 480-882-4636 or email ICEcard@jcl.com.
July/August 2014
Among those who cared for Chuck Smith when he had his heart attack, taking the time to get to know him, are Erin Mitchell (left), an Emergency Department patient care technician, and Vickey Taylor, RN, in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.
Healing the Heart Heart attack patient raves about care at North Mountain Hospital and Deer Valley cardiac rehab
“On Oct. 27, 2013, I had a heart attack. Fortunately for me, I was taken to John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital where I received world-class care,” said Chuck Smith, 67, a Moon Valley resident. While at the gym, Chuck said he experienced “an incredible pressure” across his chest. He drove himself home (against his better judgment), and his wife, a retired nurse, called 9-1-1. When the paramedics arrived, she asked, “If this was your dad, where would you take him?” They simultaneously replied, “John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital.”
Heart Attack Occurs in ED As the ambulance transported Chuck, the Emergency Department (ED) care team prepared for his arrival. “When we know a (possible) heart attack patient is on the way, we begin prepping the bedside immediately,” said Erin Mitchell, an ED patient care technician. “As soon as the patient is in the
door, he or she will receive an EKG, and an i-STAT System will analyze blood samples within minutes to provide real-time, lab-quality results.” While in the ED, Chuck actually suffered a heart attack. “It got busy quickly,” he said. That’s because time equals muscle. When blood flow stops, heart muscle starts to die. The faster blood flow can be restored, the less damage is done and the more complete the recovery. One of Chuck’s arteries was 90 percent blocked. An interventional cardiologist in the Cath Lab inserted three stents, followed by Chuck’s recuperation in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU). continued on Page 2 >