Every EMS and fire rescue vehicle in the county now carries one of the wireless devices, a 12-pound box capable of sending an early snapshot of a patient's heart to hospitals long before they arrive. Volusia bought 79 of the Zoll X series machines for about $31,000 each.
Time takes on a greater meaning when a life-threatening event occurs, such as a heart attack. Getting patients to the nearest hospital is key to successful treatment. In health care vernacular, they often refer to it the "golden hour."
But communicating a patient's heart condition measured by an electrocardiogram, or EKG, has not been particularly efficient. Before, paramedics performed a series of tests on a patient and hospital staff would perform many of the same tests again once they arrived.
"Now we all have data cards in here and basically from the moment you walk up to a patient you're able to transmit the EKG that will get to the hospital upwards of 20 to 25 minutes quicker than we were doing before," said Michael Vincent, the county's clinical services manager.
What's more, earlier communication helps hospitals determine the necessary level of care. Activating a cardiac catheterization lab, the exam room where medical staff checks to see which arteries are blocked, is expensive for local hospitals. Vincent said they will often wait until they've seen an EKG before deciding.
"By us being able to transmit these EKGs quickly as soon as we have patient contact then we are able to help the patient out because they're able to activate their entire team," Vincent said.
Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death and hospitalizations in Volusia, causing some 4,500 emergency department visits in 2014. That year, according to an April report by the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County, there was a 9 percent increase in the heart disease death rate from 2010 to 2014. But the statewide rate decreased by 2 percent during the same period.
"We want to have early notification because the earlier you can get to the patient, especially if they're having an acute cardiac event that needs intervention, the better the outcome for the patient," said Dr. Peter Springer, medical director for the county. "There is a trend across the country to be able to see the EKG before they arrive. This gives us the best opportunity."
The monitors are integrated with the technology used at every hospital in Volusia as well as Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford. At least two Florida Hospital locations in Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach both use the same brand equipment, hospital spokeswoman Lindsay Cashio said.
"When seconds count in a cardiac crisis, using technology in the field that communicates directly with our emergency care teams in our hospital will only further improve care and streamline the process for patients during their time of need," Cashio said.
———
©2016 The News-Journal, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Visit The News-Journal, Daytona Beach, Fla. at www.news-journalonline.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
