Level One Program

Research shows that patients with certain types of heart attacks are much more likely to recover fully if treated within 90 minutes. This includes a treatment known as percutaneous coronary intervention (coronary angioplasty or stenting), which requires a catheterization lab staffed by highly skilled physicians and clinicians.
This type of catheterization lab is typically found only in metro areas but often is not available in rural areas.

Program Overview

Started in March of 2003, the Level 1 Heart Attack Program evolved from the need to connect rural areas with this level of treatment. The program relies upon a high degree of collaboration between community hospitals and Abbott Northwestern Hospital and the Minneapolis Heart Institute®.

The process begins when a patient with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction arrives at a community hospital. After evaluating and stabilizing the patient, the community emergency department declares a Level 1 heart attack. Coordination immediately begins on a number of different fronts. Trained personnel, who understand that a fast response is essential to aid recovery, coordinate emergency transportation and promptly arrange with air or ground crews for the quick transport of the patient.

A Level 1 team at Abbott Northwestern Hospital begins work immediately. Before the patient even arrives, admission staff complete registration information based on data submitted by the community hospital to ensure a bed is available. Designated nurses work closely with key hospital departments to share patient information, such as intubation, cardiac arrest, interpreter requirements and changes in patient status. A full cath lab team, including a registered nurse, cardiovascular technician, radiology technician, clinical cardiologist and interventional cardiologist, are prepared to act when the patient arrives. Later, Abbott Northwestern staff care for family members when they arrive and escort them to their loved one.

Patients are moved from the helicopter or ambulance directly to the cardiac cath lab, where the Level 1 team is standing-by.

The treatment goal is to direct angioplasty/stenting within 90 minutes from the time patients arrive at their local emergency department to balloon inflation at the Abbott Northwestern catheterization lab. It is a program that requires transportation working in harmony with proven medical procedures, but it all begins with quick decision making by emergency room physicians at non-metro hospitals.

The Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital Level 1 Heart Attack Program is unique in the United States for providing care of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The program makes an angioplasty team available around-the-clock for immediate treatment of patients coming under the auspices of the Level 1 Program. This coordinated effort now includes 35 community hospitals up to 210 miles away and the Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. This program has let to a significant reduction in mortality rates.

For more information on the Level 1 Program at Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital click here: http://www.mplsheart.com/Services/EmergencyCardiacCare/LevelOne.aspx

For more information on Level 1 Heart Attack Outcomes Report click here: http://www.mplsheart.com/Publications/LevelOneReport.aspx