From Ruth.A.Burke at maine.gov Wed Feb 7 09:47:51 2007 From: Ruth.A.Burke at maine.gov (Burke, Ruth A) Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 09:47:51 -0500 Subject: [dirigohealth-mqfamistakeholders] In a Heartbeat Emphasizes Heart Attack Symptom Awareness and Call 9-1-1 for American Heart Month Message-ID: <6CBA9BB548FAEB44A4AEC1B38072A34A02678A44@SOM-TEAQASMAIL1.som.w2k.state.me.us> With a Heart Attack - Waiting Can be Devastating In a Heartbeat Emphasizes Heart Attack Symptom Awareness and Call 9-1-1 for American Heart Month February 7, 2007 In recognition of American Heart Month (February), In a Heartbeat, a key initiative of the Dirigo Health Agency's Maine Quality Forum, reminds Mainers that delaying treatment for a heart attack needlessly causes significant damage to the heart and possibly death. "Despite major advances in medicine, far too many Mainers still die or become severely disabled due to heart attacks, because Emergency Care is not being accessed quickly enough" says Dr. Gus Lambrew, Medical Director of the In a Heartbeat initiative and former Senior Advisor for Science and Quality, American College of Cardiology. The 2005 Maine Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System shows that 88% of Mainers cannot correctly identify the warning signs of a heart attack and the need to call 9-1-1 immediately. According to the Office of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics, heart attacks caused or contributed to 921 Maine resident deaths in 2004. By recognizing the signs of heart attack and calling 9-1-1 immediately after symptoms begin, heart muscle can be saved. Know the Signs of a Heart Attack: Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, while other heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Below are signs of a possible heart attack: * Chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. * Pain or discomfort in the upper body (one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach) * Shortness of breath * Breaking out in a cold sweat * Nausea * Lightheadedness Not all of these signs occur in every heart attack, and sometimes symptoms go away and return. Women are somewhat more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain. Call 9-1-1 immediately: Time lost is heart muscle lost o Anyone who sees or has any of the listed symptoms should immediately call 9-1-1. o Studies show that on average only about half of heart attack victims call 9-1-1. o Many of those who don't call, either die or lose some of their physical capacity. "Never feel embarrassed to call 9-1-1. EMS is here to help you," says Jay Bradshaw, Director, Maine EMS, and In a Heartbeat Executive Committee member. "We know that it can be difficult to know for sure if you or a loved one is having a heart attack, but we want you to call 9-1-1 and call immediately if you have any symptoms. It's a call your loved ones will thank you for making." Today heart attack victims can benefit from new medications and treatments. And by calling 9-1-1, treatment can begin in the ambulance, before you arrive at the hospital. The emergency room and the cardiac team can be alerted and ready for your arrival, saving precious time. A part of the State Health Plan, In a Heartbeat is a statewide coalition of medical providers, Emergency Medical Services, Maine Center for Disease Control, community outreach and health advocacy organizations, such as the American Heart Association Northeast Affiliate, working to ensure that Mainers having heart attacks receive timely, quality care, regardless of where they live or work, and where they are treated. In a Heartbeat Contact: Carrie Hanlon, Planning & Research Associate Dirigo Health Agency, Maine Quality Forum 211 Water St., 53 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 207.287.9974 carrie.hanlon at maine.gov More information: www.mainequalityforum.gov/inaheartbeat.html Ruth Ann Burke Administrative Secretary Dirigo Health Agency & Maine Quality Forum 211 Water Street #53 State House Station Augusta ME 04333-0053 Phone: 207-287-9956 & 207-287-9900 Fax: 207-287-5198 & 207-287-9922 ruth.a.burke at maine.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/dirigohealth-mqfamistakeholders/attachments/20070207/7cbeabfb/attachment-0001.html From Carrie.Hanlon at maine.gov Tue Feb 13 12:09:21 2007 From: Carrie.Hanlon at maine.gov (Hanlon, Carrie) Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:09:21 -0500 Subject: [dirigohealth-mqfamistakeholders] In a Heartbeat Report and Op-Ed Message-ID: <6CBA9BB548FAEB44A4AEC1B38072A34A028293F7@SOM-TEAQASMAIL1.som.w2k.state.me.us> Hello, MQF is pleased to share the attached In a Heartbeat Status Report, which provides a summary of the evolution and progress of the project during 2006 and its plans for 2007. This report is also available online at www.mainequalityforum.gov/inaheartbeat.html, under project news. In other news, MQF is pleased to report that an op-ed written by IHB Executive Committee Member Jay Bradshaw, Director of Maine EMS, appears in today's Bangor Daily News newspaper. Jay's article is one way IHB is working to raise awareness during American Heart Month about heart attack symptoms and the need to call 9-1-1 immediately after symptoms begin. (The article link and full text appear below). Thanks! Carrie Hanlon Planning & Research Associate Maine Quality Forum (207) 287-9974 http://bangordailynews.com/news/t/viewpoints.aspx?articleid=146305&zonei d=35. Jay Bradshaw: Dialing 911 the first step in an emergency By BDN Staff Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - Bangor Daily News For most people living in Maine, their understanding of the Emergency Medical Services System is that when a call is placed to 911, help arrives a short time later. In some respects this is a good sign, because it illustrates that many people who live and work in Maine will never use an ambulance - although each year there are more than 250,000 calls to which EMS responds. However, what happens behind the scene when a call is made is the activation of an impressive and coordinated system of care that is known and understood by the providers. The first and, perhaps most important, step in the EMS system is you, the person who sees or experiences an emergency and calls 911. Within the health care system, there are many steps involved in providing care, and each of these steps takes time. On a regular basis, hospitals and EMS services review these steps and make adjustments to reduce unnecessary delays. Ambulance services do the same thing by modifying their staffing structure and even ambulance locations. These changes can be life-saving, but only if the 911 call is placed in a timely manner. It is well known, and frequently observed, that many people who are exhibiting the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, stroke or other emergency, hesitate to call 911. Part of the hesitation is likely due to our inherent independence and reluctance to involve others with our problems or to enter into the unknown realm of EMS. So what happens when a 911 call is placed in Maine? The EMS system is activated, and care begins immediately - literally, with the person that answers the 911 call. Effective Jan. 1, 2007, all people who answer 911 calls are required to be certified emergency medical dispatchers. EMDs are trained to ask specific questions that help alert the responding EMS crews about the nature of the emergency, identify what additional resources may be needed, and provide instructions on how to begin treatment for specific emergencies, such as heart attacks. In some communities, there will be EMS providers who respond before the ambulance arrives. The information that is collected and the care that is provided have been developed by experienced physicians who know what it is like to work in an emergency setting. The care that begins at the scene of an emergency is carefully designed and coordinated to work smoothly with the local hospital, and in cases where advanced care is needed, to work with other hospitals and specialists. How this all happens is not a secret, it is by design. Incorporated into that design are partners in health care who are committed to providing high quality care to all patients. These are providers who understand the complexities and importance of timely treatment for ill and injured patients, and who work together in a system that may be transparent to patients and their families. Maine's EMS system is often used as a shining example of collaboration and cooperation because it is one of health care partners at all levels working together and constantly challenging themselves to do better. However, this system cannot be activated until that all-important, potentially life-saving call is made - by you. Critical communication and coordination of care, which are needed to save lives and physical functioning, are delayed and sometimes lost forever if you drive yourself or a loved one to the hospital instead of calling 911 and activating EMS. February is American Health Month, and we can all accomplish a great deal by knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, which include: chest pain or discomfort, sweating, feeling week, lightheaded or faint, shortness of breath, pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulders, pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back chest, and-or difficulty breathing. At the first sign of a heart attack, pick up the phone and call 911. Regardless of the time or day - make the call, activate the system, and begin the care. Jay Bradshaw is director of Maine Emergency Medical Services, Department of Public Safety, and a member of the In a Heartbeat executive committee. He can be reached at Jay.bradshaw at maine.gov . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/dirigohealth-mqfamistakeholders/attachments/20070213/25201761/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: IHB Status Report 12-06 FINAL.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 61854 bytes Desc: IHB Status Report 12-06 FINAL.pdf Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/dirigohealth-mqfamistakeholders/attachments/20070213/25201761/IHBStatusReport12-06FINAL-0001.obj