KEEPING PACE WITH CARDIAC CARE Tim and Sandy Mugg
Tim replied that he was in such extreme pain that he could not, thus Sandy made the call on his behalf. Waiting for the paramedics, Tim laid prone on the ground with his wallet and phone in his front pocket. Fortunately, the wait was brief as paramedics quickly arrived.
STEMI Care at Marian Major cardiac events can occur to people who are otherwise healthy and strong. Tim was a lifelong athlete who ran longdistances on a consistent basis and was in excellent health; however, even athletic individuals can succumb to major health related issues.
Tim Mugg, cardiac patient, enjoys a local run recently after his heart attack.
Unexpected phone calls can bring unsolicited emotions and feelings. Receiving a call from your spouse could be something as mundane as the need to pick up a gallon of milk or something sublime like holding the winning lotto ticket. For Sandy Mugg, receiving a call from her husband Tim brought something unexpected. It was just like any other day, on January 19, 2018, when Sandy answered her husband’s phone call. Tim shared how after one of his long runs he was experiencing prolonged shortness of breath, pain running in between his shoulder blades, and lightheadedness. Sandy, Service Area Senior Director for Patient Safety and Risk Management and a registered nurse for over 26 years at Marian Regional Medical Center, immediately recognized these as classic warning signs of a heart attack. Sandy responded with her clinical training, “Tim, you need to call 911.”
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Luckily for those on the Central Coast, Marian Regional Medical Center is a designated STEMI Receiving Center for the community. When a heart attack occurs, the medical team at Marian is ready to move. Being a STEMI Receiving Center means that heart attack patients are cared for seamlessly from entry at the Emergency Department until the transfer to a cardiac catheterization lab in the Sue J. Sword Heart Center. When paramedics notify Marian of incoming STEMI patients, the Emergency Department quickly prepares to receive the patient. A marvel of technology, the EKG is a recording made to determine the heart condition, and is able to be transmitted from the paramedics to Marian, ensuring the medical staff have additional time to prepare, as minutes can make all the difference in cardiac emergencies.
“I sat back and pondered these things in my heart,” said Sandy. “I caught a glimpse of Tim’s legacy and was at peace in that moment.”
