Ron Rosenbaum was not unlike many baby-boomers. As a fifty-five year old, he didn't like to talk about his personal health, could not even recall the last time he saw his physician, and had never heard of STEMI.

“I never enjoyed going to the doctor, even when I wasn't feeling well I'd avoid it.” admits Rosenbaum, “But that morning in March I felt light-headed with discomfort in my arms, it was different than anything I'd ever experienced, I knew something was very wrong.”

After dropping off his daughter at school, Rosenbaum made a detour from his usual route to work, “I knew that I needed help right away,” Rosenbaum pulled into Carlsbad Fire Department Station 6 and asked for assistance. It was a decision that quite possibly saved his life.

His actions initiated a series of well-planned emergency steps involving dozens of well-trained healthcare professionals. The protocol was part of Tri-City Medical Center’s early response heart attack program.

“The patient was experiencing chest pain,” explains Roark Griffin, paramedic with the Carlsbad Fire Department. “All symptoms pointed to a heart attack. ”Rosenbaum’s EKG was immediately transmitted from the ambulance to Tri-City Medical Center’s Emergency Department via specialized wireless cell phone equipment. The acquisition of the new transmittal technology for all emergency response teams in Oceanside, Carlsbad and Vista was made possible through funding from donors to Tri-City Hospital Foundation. This equipment has now been installed in all ambulances and first responder fire units for these departments.

“Before we had this device, we would give the EKG results verbally,” says Griffin. “Now it can be sent directly and can reduce precious time in the emergency process.”

An emergency room physician at Tri-City Medical Center received Rosenbaum's EKG and confirmed that the patient was having a STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction). STEMIs are considered the most severe type of heart attack and are often fatal.

When Rosenbaum arrived at Tri-City Medical Center, a designated STEMI Receiving Center for San Diego County, cardiologist Dr. Kenneth Carr and the specialized STEMI team were ready and waiting. Their job was to assess and stabilize Rosenbaum before transferring him to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. “It was incredible to watch the doctors and nurses perform at such a high level,” beams Ondrea Labella, Rosenbaum’s wife of 21 years and a Tri-City hospital employee. “As scary as the situation was, I knew he was in extremely competent hands.”

The implementation of the STEMI program has helped to reduce Tri-City's “door-to-balloon” time to under the national benchmark of 90 minutes. “This is an industry measure that refers to the amount time it takes from the patients arrival at the hospital door, to when a catheter is advanced in the blocked artery and the balloon is inflated to restore normal blood flow,” says Donald Dawkins, Cardiovascular Service Line Administrator for Tri-City Medical Center. “A faster diagnosis leads to faster treatment. With heart attacks time is muscle—saving time translates to saving as much of the heart muscle as possible.”

Carlsbad Firefighter Bret Stewart demonstrates the new wireless equipment.

Rosenbaum received a stent to open his blocked coronary artery. Thanks to the team of emergency professionals from Carlsbad Fire Department and Tri-City Medical Center his “door-to-balloon” time was just 62 minutes.

“I'm a lucky man,” Rosenbaum admits, “but I still don’t like going to the doctor.” He continues, “Regardless of your age or health, I believe everyone should know the signs of a heart attack and should be aware of the outstanding emergency and cardiac care available at Tri-City.”

For more information on the cardiac services at Tri-City Medical Center contact Donald Dawkins at (760) 940-7472.