IN Woodland Hills Spring 2014 | Page 24

Teaming Up to Save Lives Dialing 911 is the critical first step in mobilizing the lifesaving STEMI program. Collaboration with local emergency medical service (EMS) providers is an “extremely critical” element of its STEMI alert program, says Dr. Ergina. When the EMS team transmits the EKG results directly to the Emergency Department (ED), the catheterization lab team can be activated before the patient arrives — saving up to 20 minutes, he says. WOODLAND HILLS School News +