TIME-MC Study

Medical Information to be Wirelessly Transmitted From Ambulance to Cardiologist

Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (SVMHS) is one of 14 hospitals across the country to participate in a research study that will determine the effectiveness of relaying medical information on a heart patient to an attending physician—before the patient arrives at the hospital. The Timely Intervention in Myocardial Emergency Multi-Center Study, or the TIME-MC Study, will look at whether patient outcomes will be improved if medical information reaches the hospital and attending cardiologist while the patient is still in transport. To examine that question, 12-lead ECG technology will be utilized by the City of Salinas Fire Department Paramedics who will measure a patient for signals and signs of a heart attack. That information will be wirelessly transmitted to the hospital Emergency Room and the cardiologist on call via a hand-held device, so that treatment can begin the moment the patient arrives at the hospital.

Time is of the essence in treating a heart attack. Half of the people who die from a heart attack do so within one hour after the onset of symptoms, and before they ever reach the hospital. The sooner a heart attack victim is treated, the greater the chances of survival. Most heart attack victims wait two hours or more after their symptoms begin before they seek medical help. That delay can be deadly.

In a review of Emergency Room statistics for the month of November, 2005, SVMHS Research Coordinator Nancy Yellin reported that of the 155 patients who came in complaining of chest pain, 121 of them, or approximately 80%, had driven to the hospital rather than call 911. “Timing is critical when it comes to treating a heart attack,” Yellin said. “Waiting to act on those symptoms, and then getting into a car rather than an ambulance, could mean the difference between successful treatment and death.”

“The potential implications of this study cannot be overstated,” said Anthony Sintetos, MD, PhD, the interventional cardiologist directing this study at Salinas Valley Memorial. “This study has the potential of changing the way heart attacks are triaged in the field nationwide. Wireless technology may very well be standard equipment in every ambulance in the nation, if we see the results we expect from this project.”

Patient education is vital. “People must know that if they suffer any of the symptoms of a heart attack, and especially if they have risk factors, the have to call 911 immediately. Making that phone call could save their life,” Sintetos said.

Salinas Valley Memorial is the only west coast facility participating in this important national study. The study is being conducted in conjunction with Duke University School of Medicine, with support from Welch Allyn, Inc. (maker of the technology), The Duke Endowment, and the William T. Morris Foundation.


Project Timeline
August, 2005 SVMHS selected to participate in TIME MC Study
September, 2005 SVMHS Institutional Review Board approves project
October, 2005 County EMS approves project
November, 2005 Data collection begins
December, 2005 Hospital training begins
January, 2006 Paramedic training begins
February, 2006 Physician training begins
March, 2006 Go live


Heart Attack Warning Signs

*Sudden and persistent sense of pressure, pain, or “weight” in the chest, arms or jaw. For women, the sensation can occur in the stomach.
*Chest discomfort with light headedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, vomiting or shortness of breath
*Anxiety, nervousness, cold, sweaty skin and/or paleness
*Increased or irregular heart beat

Not everyone experiences all of these symptoms, and the warning signs can vary from person to person and are often different for men than for women. People should call 911 immediately if they have any of the above symptoms, along with any of the following risk factors:

*History of heart problems
*Family history of heart problems
*Hypertension
*Diabetes
*Post menopausal
*Smoker


Participating Facilities

TriHealth, Cincinnati, OH
Presbyterian Medical Center, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Duke University and Durham Regional Hospitals, Durham, NC
Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma, OK
St. Francis Hospital of Evanston, Evanston IL
South Miami Heart Center, Miami, FL
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
St. Mary's Health Center / Metro Heart Group, St. Louis, MO
Shands at AGH, Gainesville, FL
Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System Salinas, CA
Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg, VA
Charleston, WV
Susquehanna Cardiology Assoc., Williamsport, PA
William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center, New Brunswick, NJ
St. Joseph's Hospital Syracuse, NY