Good Shepherd earns recognition for cardiovascular care

The American Heart Association has recognized Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital for its superior care for patients who have had a severe heart attack and has been awarded the American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline Receiving Center-Bronze Level Recognition Award.

This award is achieved by meeting specific criteria for treating STEMI patients. STEMI is the common name for a specific type of heart attack that in medical terms is ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. It is the most severe form of heart attack. Almost 250,000 patients experience STEMI each year in the United States. These types of heart attacks are caused by a blood clot blocking a major artery in the heart, and causing the heart muscle supplied by the affected artery to die.

“Upon arrival to the heart catheterization lab, we perform a diagnostic catheterization to locate the site of the blockage. We then perform intervention to open the artery and re-establish blood flow,” said Dr. Sunil Kadakia, chief of Cardiology at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital. “We have set a target of 90 minutes or less for door-to-balloon intervention based on recommendations by the American College of Cardiology and we are proud that our average door to balloon time is 58 minutes. By following these recommendations, the patient’s chance of recovery without loss of heart muscle or long-term complications is very high.”

Hospitals involved in the Mission: Lifeline program focus on improving level of care for STEMI patients. Hospitals recognized with this award achieved 85 percent of STEMI patients having door-to-device time of 90 minutes or less, having 85 percent of patients on aspirin at discharge and meeting a standard of 85 percent of patients receiving restored blood flow to the heart after the heart attack, to name a few.

“We are very excited to receive this award and I’m proud to be a part of this collaborative team. Advocate Good Shepherd is widely recognized for its quality comprehensive cardiac program,” said Dr. Kadakia. “We are pleased to add this recognition by the American Heart Association for our dedication and achievements.”