When a heart attack happens, minutes matter for receiving life-saving care.
Greg Rosenthal experienced this firsthand when he started having chest pains this past Monday and dialed 911.
Within minutes of receiving the call, EMTs performed an EKG in Greg's driveway and sent the results to URMC. As soon as the ambulance arrived at the hospital, our Cath Lab and Emergency Department (ED) teams jumped into action.
"When I got to the hospital, as soon as they opened that ambulance door...I could see about 10 or 12 people there," Greg shared. "As I went through the door, I heard someone say, 'STEMI' and then I heard a couple of them holler 'STAT'."
A STEMI is a type of heart attack that occurs when there's a total blockage in one or more coronary arteries, preventing blood from flowing to the lower heart chambers. Greg had 100% and 90% blockage in his right and left coronary arteries.
Greg was rushed to the Cath Lab, where he received two stents. Just 33 minutes after arriving at URMC, Greg's first stent was placed—less than half the national average time.
"They were so attentive and caring. Somebody held my hand," Greg said. "They were just comforting—I can't praise them enough. They saved my life."
Greg was then transferred to the ICU to recover. He shared that the ICU team's attentiveness to him and his daughter—even bringing her a blanket and offering coffee—meant so much to him.
The Food Services team also went above and beyond by providing Greg with a vegetarian, kosher meal to accommodate his dietary restrictions.
"It was a wonderful experience," he said of his hospital stay at URMC. "They stopped me from hurting. They stopped the pain."
We are happy to announce that Greg is making a full recovery!
