In January of this year, Glendale Adventist Medical Center became one of the first hospitals in L.A .County designated as an ST Elevation MI (STEMI) Receiving Center. Only about a month later, the STEMI designation proved to be an important part of saving lives.

Gerardo Jacob, 45, began having chest pain early on Feb. 15. After three hours of intense pain, Gerardo went to a clinic on Olympic Boulevard, where he received an EKG that confirmed he was having a heart attack. Because they were not equipped to handle patients having a heart attack, the clinic immediately called 9-1-1.

Paramedics responded to the call, administered another EKG in the field with similar results and brought Gerardo to Glendale Adventist Medical Center, the closest STEMI Receiving Center.

The Glendale Adventist Medical Center emergency team, including Harlan Gibbs, MD, Kim Knapp, RN, Lynette Clement, RN, Betty Spencer, RN, and Norman Morales, EMT, immediately sprang into action.

Within 55 minutes, Gerardo was in the cardiac catheterization lab having his blocked arteries reopened by Marc Ladenheim, MD, and assisted by Lavinia Eng, RN, Maria David, RN, and orientee Annie Kim, RN.

Door-to-dilation time was less than 60 minutes, and it saved Gerardo's life. Thanks to orchestrated efforts by the fire department, parademics, Glendale Adventist Medical Center Emergency Department physicians and staff and cath lab physicians and staff, he is back to his life and is a great example of the teamwork that supports the STEMI program.

"It takes a large number of people with a high level of professionalism and commitment to save one life," said Zev Yaroslavsky, chairman of the LA County Board of Supervisors. "We're proud to be part of a system that saves lives."