Acute Myocardial Infarction

Each year, more than a million Americans suffer an acute myocardial infarction - a heart attack. A heart attack is an injury to the heart resulting from a loss of blood supply. It usually occurs when a clot blocks the flow of blood through a coronary artery. A heart attack can damage part of the heart, leading to congestive heart failure. However, appropriate treatment of a patient with symptoms of a heart attack can lessen or prevent damage.

Given Aspirin on Arrival

Why is this Important? The heart is a muscle that gets oxygen through blood vessels. Sometimes blood clots can block these blood vessels, and the heart can’t get enough oxygen. This can cause a heart attack. Chewing an aspirin as soon as symptoms of a heart attack begin may help reduce the severity of the attack. This chart shows the percent of heart attack patients who were given (or took) aspirin within 24 hours of arrival at the hospital. Higher percentages are better.

Given Aspirin on Arrival ECOH Goal 100% Top Reporting Hospitals 100% National Average 93% Illinois Average 94% Wisconsin Average 94% OSF St. Anthony 99% Swedish American 99% Rockford Memorial 98% Beloit Memorial 100% CGH 95% Freeport Memorial 100% KSB 96% Mercy Hospital 99% Mercy Walworth Medical Center 0* Meriter Hospital 99% St. Mary's Hospital 99% UW Madison 100% * "0 patients": This hospital treated patients in this condition, but no patients met the criteria for inclusion in the measure calculation.

Aspirin Prescribed at Discharge

Why is this Important? Blood clots can block blood vessels. Aspirin can help prevent blood clots from forming or help dissolve blood clots that have formed. Following a heart attack, continued use of aspirin may help reduce the risk of another heart attack. Aspirin can have side effects like stomach inflammation, bleeding, or allergic reactions. Talk to your health care provider before using aspirin on a regular basis to make sure it’s safe for you. Higher percentages are better.

Aspirin Prescribed at Discharge ECOH Goal 100% Top Reporting Hospitals 100% National Average 90% Illinois Average 91% Wisconsin Average 95% OSF St. Anthony 99% Swedish American 100% Rockford Memorial 100% Beloit Memorial 97% CGH 77% Freeport Memorial N/A KSB 97% Mercy Hospital 88% Mercy Walworth Medical Center 0* Meriter Hospital 99% St. Mary's Hospital 99% UW Madison 100% N/A: The number of cases is too small for purposes of reliably predicting hospital     performance. * "0 patients": This hospital treated patients in this condition, but no patients met the criteria for inclusion in the measure calculation.

Given Beta Blocker on Arrival

Why is this Important? Beta blockers are a type of medicine that is used to lower blood pressure, treat chest pain (angina) and heart failure, and to help prevent a heart attack. Beta blockers relieve the stress on the heart by slowing the heart rate and reducing the force with which the heart muscle contracts (to pump blood). Most heart attack patients should be given a beta blocker within 24 hours of arriving at the hospital. Higher percentages are better.

Given Beta Blocker on Arrival ECOH Goal 100% Top Reporting Hospitals 100% National Average 87% Illinois Average 87% Wisconsin Average 92% OSF St. Anthony 98% Swedish American 96% Rockford Memorial 95% Beloit Memorial 96% CGH 92% Freeport Memorial 93% KSB 97% Mercy Hospital 93% Mercy Walworth Medical Center 0* Meriter Hospital 100% St. Mary's Hospital 93% UW Madison 98% * "0 patients": This hospital treated patients in this condition, but no patients met the criteria for inclusion in the measure calculation.

Given Beta Blocker on Discharge

Why is this Important? Beta blockers are a type of medicine that is used to lower blood pressure, treat chest pain (angina) and heart failure, and to help prevent a heart attack. Beta blockers relieve the stress on your heart by slowing the heart rate and reducing the force with which your heart muscles contract to pump blood. They also help keep blood vessels from constricting in your heart, brain, and body. If you have a heart attack, you should get a prescription for a beta blocker before you leave the hospital. Higher percentages are better.

Given Beta Blocker on Discharge ECOH Goal 100% Top Reporting Hospitals 100% National Average 90% Illinois Average 88% Wisconsin Average 94% OSF St. Anthony 98% Swedish American 99% Rockford Memorial 99% Beloit Memorial 98% CGH 89% Freeport Memorial N/A KSB 95% Mercy Hospital 95% Mercy Walworth Medical Center 0* Meriter Hospital 98% St. Mary's Hospital 98% UW Madison 100% N/A: The number of cases is too small for purposes of reliably predicting hospital     performance. * "0 patients": This hospital treated patients in this condition, but no patients met the criteria for inclusion in the measure calculation.

Given Ace Inhibitor Prescribed or ARB for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)

Why is this Important? ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) are medicines used to treat patients with heart failure and are particularly beneficial in those patients with heart failure and decreased function of the left side of the heart. Early treatment with ACE inhibitors and ARBs in patients who have heart failure symptoms or decreased heart function after a heart attack can also reduce their risk of death from future heart attacks. ACE inhibitors and ARBs work by limiting the effects of a hormone that narrows blood vessels, and may thus lower blood pressure and reduce the work the heart has to perform. Since the ways in which these two kinds of drugs work are different, your doctor will decide which drug is most appropriate for you. If you have a heart attack and/or heart failure, you should get a prescription for ACE inhibitors or ARBs if you have decreased heart function before you leave the hospital.

Given Ace Inhibitor Use for or ARB for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD) ECOH Goal 100% Top Reporting Hospitals 100% National Average 83% Illinois Average 78% Wisconsin Average 85% OSF St. Anthony 95% Swedish American 93% Rockford Memorial 84% Beloit Memorial N/A CGH N/A Freeport Memorial N/A KSB N/A Mercy Hospital N/A Mercy Walworth Medical Center 0* Meriter Hospital 85% St. Mary's Hospital 79% UW Madison 94% N/A: The number of cases is too small for purposes of reliably predicting hospital     performance. * "0 patients": This hospital treated patients in this condition, but no patients met the criteria for inclusion in the measure calculation.

Given PCI Within 90 Minutes of Arrival

Why is this Important? The heart is a muscle that gets oxygen through blood vessels. Sometimes blood clots can block these blood vessels, and the heart can’t get enough oxygen. This can cause a heart attack. Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI) are procedures that are among the most effective ways to open blocked blood vessels and help prevent further heart muscle damage. A PCI is performed by a doctor to open the blockage and increase blood flow in blocked blood vessels. Improving blood flow to your heart as quickly as possible lessens the damage to your heart muscle. It also can increase your chances of surviving a heart attack. There are three procedures commonly described by the term PCI. These procedures all involve a catheter (a flexible tube) that is inserted, often through your leg, and guided through the blood vessels to the blockage. The three procedures are: Angioplasty - a balloon is inflated to open the blood vessel. Stenting - a small wire tube called a stent is placed in the blood vessel to hold it open. Atherectomy - a blade or laser cuts through and removes the blockage. Higher percentages are better.

Given PCI Within 90 Minutes of Arrival ECOH Goal 100% Top Reporting Hospitals 88% National Average 55% Illinois Average 48% Wisconsin Average 72% OSF St. Anthony  N/A Swedish American 57% Rockford Memorial N/A Beloit Memorial 0* CGH N/A Freeport Memorial 0* KSB N/A Mercy Hospital N/A Mercy Walworth Medical Center 0* Meriter Hospital N/A St. Mary's Hospital N/A UW Madison N/A N/A: The number of cases is too small for purposes of reliably predicting hospital     performance. * "0 patients": This hospital treated patients in this condition, but no patients met the criteria for inclusion in the measure calculation.

Given Smoking Cessation Advise / Counseling

Why is this Important? Smoking increases your risk for developing blood clots and heart disease that can result in a heart attack, heart failure or stroke. Smoking causes your arteries to thicken and your blood vessels to narrow. Fat and plaque stick to the walls of your arteries, which makes it harder for blood to flow. Reduced blood flow to your heart may result in chest pain, high blood pressure, and an increased heart rate. Smoking is also linked to lung disease and cancer, and can cause premature death. It is important that you get information to help you quit smoking before you leave the hospital. Quitting may help prevent another heart attack. Higher percentages are better.

Given Smoking Cessation Advice / Counseling ECOH Goal 100% Top Reporting Hospitals 100% National Average 89% Illinois Average 87% Wisconsin Average 93% OSF St. Anthony 98% Swedish American 98% Rockford Memorial 97% Beloit Memorial N/A CGH N/A Freeport Memorial N/A KSB N/A Mercy Hospital 94% Mercy Walworth Medical Center 0* Meriter Hospital 100% St. Mary's Hospital 89% UW Madison 97% N/A: The number of cases is too small for purposes of reliably predicting hospital     performance. * "0 patients": This hospital treated patients in this condition, but no patients met the criteria for inclusion in the measure calculation.

Given Fibrinolytic Medication Within 30 Minutes of Arrival

Why is this Important? The heart is a muscle that gets oxygen through blood vessels. Sometimes blood clots can block these blood vessels and the heart can’t get enough oxygen. This can cause a heart attack. Fibrinolytic drugs are medicines that can help dissolve blood clots in blood vessels and improve blood flow to your heart. You should get them within 30 minutes of arrival at the hospital. Higher percentages are better.

Given Fibrinolytic Medication Within 30 Minutes of Arrival ECOH Goal 100% Top Reporting Hospitals 100% National Average 34% Illinois Average 25% Wisconsin Average 10% OSF St. Anthony 0* Swedish American N/A Rockford Memorial N/A Beloit Memorial N/A CGH 0* Freeport Memorial N/A KSB N/A Mercy Hospital N/A Mercy Walworth Medical Center 0* Meriter Hospital N/A St. Mary's Hospital 0* UW Madison 0* N/A: The number of cases is too small for purposes of reliably predicting hospital     performance. * "0 patients": This hospital treated patients in this condition, but no patients met the criteria for inclusion in the measure calculation.

Government data last updated September 13, 2007