Helping Heart Attack Patients Survive Through a Coordinated System of Care

Lobsterman holding a lobster by ocean
Since the inception of the AMI PERFUSE Program, deaths due to heart attack in the MaineHealth service area have declined by about 50 percent.

When a heart attack occurs, immediate treatment is needed to prevent death and avoid permanent damage to the heart muscle. 

The MaineHealth AMI (Acute Myocardial Infarction) PERFUSE (Patients Emergently Reperfused by Facilities United for STEMI Excellence) Program is a regional system that aims to provide the fastest, most appropriate heart attack care and in turn ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. The regional system involves all MaineHealth hospitals, and the emergency medical services providers in the communities they serve. Here is how the program works:

  • When a person with symptoms of a heart attack arrives at the emergency department of their local hospital, clinicians work as quickly as possible to complete an electrocardiogram (EKG) and, if the patient is having a heart attack, provide medications.
  • Treatment can begin sooner when the local emergency medical responders are called; technicians with advanced training in heart attack care perform EKGs in the ambulance so that hospital emergency departments get the information before the patient arrives.
  • The patient is then transported to Maine Medical Center as soon as possible to receive surgery to repair the arteries causing the heart attack.
  • Timeframes are set by American College of Cardiology and the American Hospital Association.

A critical part of the program’s success is ensuring that patients return to their local community for ongoing cardiovascular care.

Tracking Progress

Explore some of the data being tracked by AMI PERFUSE Program.

 

 The AMI PERFUSE program reports that for those that arrive at the hospital experiencing a heart attack:

  • Currently, 82% of patients had an electrocardiogram en route or within 10 minutes of arriving at a local emergency room.    
  • 70% received thrombolytic therapy within 30 minutes of arriving at the local emergency rooms. 
  • 85% received an angioplasty within 90 minutes of arriving at a surgical hospital.
  • Timeframes are set by American College of Cardiology and the American Hospital Association.

 

PERFUSE2018

Mark's Story

Mark is a lobsterman in Arundel who spends the winter months clearing snow. But one day, his shoveling was interrupted by chest pain. That's when he learned first hand about a coordinated system of care that is dramatically reducing the number of people in Maine dying of heart attacks.
Woman practicing how to do Hands-Only CPR.

Conducting Hands-Only CPR Training

MaineHealth is committed to training people on this life-saving technique.
Learn more
Women sitting on bench with bikes

Cardiovascular Health

See the progress being made to decrease cardiovascular deaths. 

Learn more
Health Index Tobacco FCO

MaineHealth Health Index

View data on our ten priorities and progress towards MaineHealth targets. 

Learn more

Latest News

View All
Open Graph Image MHC MaineHealth Logo

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Contributes Nearly $577 Million in Total Community Benefit in FY 2023

The hospital released its Community Benefit Report outlining the value of contributions made through programming, services and other activities that fall under their not-for-profit mission.
Open Graph Image MHC MaineHealth Logo

MaineHealth Waldo Hospital to restructure obstetrics, ending labor and delivery services

The local board overseeing MaineHealth Waldo Hospital has given its approval to restructuring the hospital’s obstetrics department, ending inpatient labor and delivery services there as of April 1. The decision was ratified by the MaineHealth Board of Trustees today.
pediatrician smiling at a young child being held by his father

Pediatricians Urge Trust in Vaccines for Child Health

Memorial Hospital pediatricians note that families are expressing more vaccine hesitancy than they have seen in their careers.
Three women standing together in front of a table

Care Team Members Honored with Awards at MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals

Four care team members from MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals were recently honored with employee awards during ceremonies held on the hospital campuses.