Oakwood Donates Life-Saving Tools to Dearborn
The Oakwood Healthcare System today donated five portable 12-lead EKG units to the Dearborn Fire Department, furthering a commitment to reduce heart attack treatment times throughout the Detroit metro area.
The units, which represent an investment of $165,000 by the healthcare system, are capable of transmitting EKG information directly to the smart phones of attending physicians, dramatically reducing the treatment times for heart attack victims. It’s part of a commitment from Oakwood to provide the equipment and training to paramedics throughout the 500-square mile area serviced by Oakwood.
“This is a huge commitment, not only to the City of Dearborn, but to the entire region,” said Jeffrey Beutner, Battalion Chief, Emergency Medical Services for the City of Dearborn. “This is a wonderful thing the hospital has done.”
Healthcare systems rate the time between the arrival of heart attack patients at an emergency room and when they can receive an emergency catherization—it’s referred to as door-to-balloon time. The national average is about 90 minutes. Since the new technology has been implemented at the Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center (OHMC) in Dearborn, the average is about 53—and far less if patients are transported by the Dearborn Fire Department, rather than going to the hospital on their own.
“We’ve consistently seen 30 minutes or less when patients are transported by our agency,” said Beutner.
That’s because doctors can make the diagnosis as soon as the information is transmitted to their phones, said Joe Murray Ph.D., manager of the Critical Care transport Team at Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center.
“By the time the fire department gets to the hospital, our staff is ready to go,” said Murray.
Beutner said the units would find regular use in Dearborn. The four ambulance units in the city respond to about 10,000 calls every year. They go on at least three cardiac runs every day, he said.
Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly, along with other city officials and Oakwood executives were on hand for the presentation Wednesday afternoon at Oakwood.
Dearborn has been transmitting ECGs for about two years now, but their current cardiac monitors are older and rapidly approaching their expiration. The new Life-Pak units in Dearborn will replace five-year-old machines. Murray said Oakwood hopes to provide the equipment and training to departments throughout the healthcare system’s service area this year.
July 14th, 2011 at 4:43 am
The hospital deserves heart felt appreciation for its kind and noble gesture. Donation from the hospitals is rather a new trend set up by the Oakwood Healthcare System. Thanks for letting us know.
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July 14th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Oh yes a heartfelt thanks to such a benevolent corporation. Give me a break this hospital makes millions on the business Dearborn Fire Ambulances bring to them every day. When my father was dying from congestive heart failure and his lungs were filling by the second with fluid and DFD paramedics could only transport him to Oakwood, I took my chances and drove him to Henry Ford. I would not take my Dog to Oakwood. I’m sure the smart phones that work with these machines only work with Oakwood doctors. Just another way for this second rate hospital to drum up business it’s results can’t
July 17th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
the arrogance of someone gambling someone’s life because they believe they’re smarter than a team of doctors, and then bragging about it. i hope you take some time to reflect.
April 25th, 2012 at 7:13 am
This is such a good initiative taken by Oakwood hospital.