Get faster access to treatment: Level One for heart attacks

During a heart attack, fast treatment is crucial. Getting care immediately to open a blockage can reduce damage to the heart muscle and may mean a better outcome. To rapidly respond during a heart attack, HealthEast Heart Care has partnered with community emergency medical services (EMS) in a process called Level One.

The Level One process reduces the amount of time between hospital arrival and angioplasty, the preferred treatment for a heart attack. At St. Joseph’s Hospital, the median Level One time to angioplasty is 56 minutes.

HealthEast Heart Care was one of the first in the Twin Cities to offer "primary" angioplasty, the gold standard of care for heart attacks. This means that if you experience a heart attack, you will be treated with angioplasty instead of drugs called thrombolytics or "clot busters." St. Joseph's offers primary angioplasty around the clock.

Benefits of primary angioplasty include:

Level One in action

Here's what happens if you are experiencing a heart attack:

• 911 is called and paramedics arrive.
• If a heart attack is suspected, paramedics will do an electrocardiogram or EKG at the scene.
• If you are having a heart attack, you will be asked where you want to be treated and transported to a hospital with a cath lab that performs angioplasty.
• Paramedics will call ahead to the hospital. When coming to St. Joseph's, HealthEast staff will be notified and waiting at the door. 
• You will be admitted to the hospital for an angioplasty.
• After the angioplasty procedure to stop heart muscle damage, you will be admitted to the ICU and monitored closely by highly trained nurses and doctors.