MIAMI. – One of the concerns that arose from the bankruptcy declaration of the company that operates several hospitals in Florida, two of them located in Hialeah, was how to replace the essential services that these centers provide to the community, especially emergency treatments. where time can define between the life and death of a person. The good news is that a small hospital in Hialeah took on the challenge and opened a hemodynamics room where patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction can be treated, with all the guarantees existing in any of the large centers currently affected by financial problems. .
“We are competing with other new hospitals like Jackson West,” Yoel Hernández, CEO of Larkin Community Hospital Palm Springs Campus at 1475 W 49th Pl, Hialeah, Fl 33012, told DIARIO LAS AMÉRICAS.
“Not only have we renovated floors and walls, but we have incorporated a cardiology project that allows us to care for patients suffering from a myocardial infarction,” said Hernández, who acknowledged that the idea of opening the hemodynamics room had been in the works for some time. three years, when he became the management of the hospital institution.
Hemodynamics room
Stefan H. Blanco, a nurse specialized in cardiology, explained that since the opening of “Cath Lab”, “We can care for patients who were previously transferred to other centers.”
“By having the necessary technology, we can treat them in our hospital, correct their injuries and send them home in two or three days.”
Blanco indicated that “new technologies allow us to fix the artery and see why that patient had chest pain. Sometimes it is a coronary artery that was blocked and we can solve the problem.”
Larkin’s new catheterization room, opened in January, allows professionals to make an accurate diagnosis, being able to visualize the arteries and heart in detail to thoroughly diagnose cardiac conditions. In addition, it makes interventions quick and effective to restore blood flow. By treating heart problems without the need for open surgery, with minimally invasive procedures, patients’ risks and recovery time are reduced.
“In this same room we can perform cardiac catheterizations, implant pacemakers, defibrillators and change the batteries of these devices,” Blanco listed.
Treatment in the new unit also prevents the patient from being sent to an operating room. “Which greatly alleviates the work of surgical teams who can dedicate themselves to more complex operations. This helps the flow of the hospital and the patients, who recover faster by not using general anesthesia or having the need to intubate them.”
Ready for emergencies
The hospital is contacting police and fire emergency centers, assisted living and senior care centers in the Hialeah area to let them know that they already have the capacity to care for people suffering from a heart attack.
“One of the challenges when we think about the project of creating a “Cath Lab” was to find an experienced medical team, “however, we have had no problem finding great specialists who have wanted to join our project,” said the CEO.
The hospital has a medical team to handle emergency cases 24 hours a day. “This is very important, because the standard of treatment in the US is 90 minutes to access the artery. We are managing to do it in less time. Although the room and technology are new, our team It has been working together for more than 15 years. Some of the team members have almost 20 years of practice.”
Coach Carlos Torres explained the importance of early treatment when someone suffers a heart attack. “The time from suffering a heart attack until the doctor opens the artery is key. With our equipment, a patient can be treated in 60 minutes. If it is left for too long, the heart muscle is affected and the damage is irreversible.” “Cath Lab is a life-saving option for members of our community,” Blanco stressed.
“We are truly changing the lives of many patients. We see them the day after performing a catheterization, and they tell us: I’m breathing better, I don’t need oxygen, I can sit up. For us, this change is fascinating,” said Danay Rodríguez-Arritol, head of nursing, who emphasized the improvement experienced by the center in customer service.
Also Stroke, Stroke
The Larkin is currently qualified as a primary stroke care center, which means that stroke patients can be diagnosed and treated quickly and effectively, explained director Hernández.
The other good news is that “starting in July we are going to request The Joint Commission the certification to become a Comprehensive Stroke Care Center”, that is, where more advanced treatments can be provided and with the capacity to handle more complex cases of patients suffering from strokes.
“Nor will we have the need to transfer those patients who come to us after suffering an illness to other hospitals. stroke”, Hernandez indicated.
Best service
In the minds of many South Florida residents, Larkin Hospital is not considered among the best. However, Director Hernández stated that he is working to “make the patient care service reach excellence. We make sure that the stay is as comfortable as possible, both the food and the services provided by the hospital staff are good.”
“This better treatment is already reflected in the score our patients give us on Google,” said Hernández.
“I have worked in different hospitals and if they told me tomorrow that I had to have a procedure on my heart, with my eyes closed I would choose to come here. I know that we give the best of our knowledge to our patients and I know where the hearts of our technicians and nurses lie. Cath Lab”concluded Rodríguez-Arritol.
In the US, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death. According to the CDC, in 2022 about 702,880 people died from heart-related diseases. The American Heart Association states that each year about 805,000 Americans suffer a myocardial infarction, 14% of them die. Prompt attention to myocardial infarctions is a crucial factor in saving lives; knowing the symptoms and having specialized centers to turn to can reduce mortality and complications associated with heart attacks.
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