New Technology to Benefit Heart Attack Patients

Details

Category: News & Events

Created on Monday, 26 November 2012 14:01

Sullivan County Emergency Medical Services and the Sullivan County Community Hospital are now better equipped to treat patients suffering from heart attacks. Union Hospital's Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health (Lugar Center), a nationally recognized leader in the development of telemedicine services, has partnered with both organizations to offer a state-of-the-art care solution called the Physioglove. The glove records and transmits the patient's heart tracing to care providers so that they can determine if a heart attack is occurring. This early identification allows patients suffering from certain types of heart attacks to be quickly routed to a facility that can offer important, time-sensitive treatment.

Staying true to its mission of "advancing rural health through education, innovation and collaboration," the Lugar Center continues to strive to reduce the many health-related barriers that exist in rural communities. Thanks to a generous grant from HRSA's Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT), the Lugar Center was able to equip two of Sullivan County's ambulances with the devices. In addition, paramedics at Sullivan County Ambulance received the appropriate training required for the new technology.

If you are experiencing chest pain do not delay treatment or drive yourself to the emergency department. Complications of a heart attack such as pain and dizziness can reduce your ability to drive safely. Call 911 immediately if you feel pain or pressure in the chest lasting more than a few minutes, pain in the arm, back, teeth or jaw; shortness of breath; pain in the upper abdomen; sweating, feelings of doom; fainting or dizziness; heartburn, clammy skin; nausea and vomiting.

For more information about this project please contact Angela Powell or Stephanie Laws at Union Hospitals, Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health. For more information on the Wabash Valley Rural Telehealth Network visit us at www.ruraltelenet.org. This program is funded by the HRSA Office for Advancement of Telehealth (Grant # H2ARH20178)