SMDH receives STEMI designation to treat serious heart attacks

As the most dangerous type of heart attack, a STEMI is a time-critical diagnosis and requires advanced training and preparation by hospital staff in order to give the patient the best chance of survival.

The designation means SMDH can treat STEMI patients, potentially with lifesaving drugs, before sending them on to a larger hospital with a higher level of care, said Jason Mayberry, director of the SMDH Emergency Department.

“We have a great alliance with Missouri Baptist and a few of the other bigger hospitals to get our patients taken care of,” says Mayberry. “But this now allows EMS if, for some reason, aircraft are unable to fly a patient to a tertiary center, they’re now able to show up at our hospital where we’re able to intervene and take care of them.”

As a STEMI hospital, SMDH doctors can administer a “clot buster” with the potential to dissolve a clot and restore oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle, he said. This can keep a patient alive while being transported to a larger hospital.

He called the STEMI designation a huge step for the hospital and for the community and surrounding counties.

“Say you’re on the other side of Bunker and you’re having a heart attack and a helicopter is not able to fly you, and they are having to drive you by ambulance to Phelps Health or Texas County or even toward the St. Louis area,” he said. Now that patient can be taken to SMDH, a much closer facility, for time-critical treatment.

Work on achieving the STEMI designation began last November, and it received its formal survey in March. SMDH is now one of 57 STEMI hospitals in the state.

SMDH received its Level 4 stroke center designation in 2016. Mayberry said the hospital began looking at a STEMI designation shortly after he came on board in early 2018. It’s been a long, complicated process that came to a successful conclusion late last week.

“I’m extremely excited,” he said.

In a press release, SMDH advised residents of the care now available.

“If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, cool/clammy skin, don’t hesitate to call 911 as soon as possible. SMDH is well equipped to rapidly diagnose, treat and transport any patient to a tertiary center, if you are experiencing a STEMI,” the release said.

More information on STEMI is available on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website.