Hospitals Are Not Fast Enough to Prevent Death From Heart Attacks

Scott Smith

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Researchers found only a small percentage of hospitals meet nationally recognized standards in preventing death from heart attacks. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology found even the top hospital performers met the minimum guidelines half of the time to the prevent the wrongful death of its patients. Only one third of all hospitals were found to provide emergency care to heart attack victims fast enough to meet the medical requirements for saving lives.

It was reported about 200,000 people a year have heart attacks caused by blocked valves in main arteries that supply blood to the heart. Of those, about 10,000 die each year while in the hospital. At least one study has found if every hospital met the minimum guidelines, doctors could save 1,000 patients lives per year.

The recommended treatment for heart attack patients is to receive angioplasty, inflating a tiny balloon at the site of the blockage, which cuts a patients risk of dying by 40% if performed within 90 minutes after arrival at the hospital. The study also showed 80% of people live within an hour's drive of a hospital but only one third of heart attack patients get angioplasty to save the patient's life within the 90 minute window of the patient's arrival.