Code STEMI

LAS: The men and women behind London’s Emergency Services

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 16:45:43 +0000

When we first embarked on the #CodeSTEMI concept we truly wanted to visit system after system and share with the world just how different everyone is looking at taking care of STEMI patients. The truth is that we have only hit the tip of the iceberg when it comes to pre-hospital care. Cardiac Arrest, Therapeutic [...]

Audience Response: from Lake Norden Ambulance District

tsetla — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:54:46 +0000

Recent email came to Tom about our latest episode. “Good morning Tom, I just came across the interview you did with my friends in the county north of me (Watertown Fire and Recue ) in Watertown, South Dakota, great interview and Thank You for taking the time to come to South Dakota. Mission Lifeline is [...]

The Premiere of Episode One – Sioux Falls

tsetla — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:55:23 +0000

It is Thursday May 1st in Baltimore, MD and we are at the Baltimore convention center where there was a standing room only crowd there to watch the premiere of Code STEMI. My first gut reaction was telling me that here it is the chance to show that when you combine the human stories with [...]

News Release: American Heart Association

tsetla — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:18:48 +0000

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is featured on the First Responder Network’s new WebTV series, “Code STEMI”. The series, launched this month, highlights the passion of the people involved in Mission: Lifeline and the work they do to save the lives of heart attack patients. Additional footage, interviews with Mission: Lifeline staff and [...]

Code STEMI to premier Thursday at EMS Today 2012

Tom Bouthillet — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:19:07 +0000

At long last the premier episode of the Code STEMI Web Series is set to make its debut at EMS Today 2012 in Baltimore on Thursday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the Physio-Control booth (#2907)! This is the rural episode that features the emerging system of care in South Dakota and the work of [...]

Top 10 Advancements in Cardiovascular & Stroke in 2011

tsetla — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:35:28 +0000

The AHA came out with the Top 10 here, well it is no surprise that the recognition and treatment of STEMI is one of them. As we dive deeper and deeper into additional systems that have been working hard to reduce symptom onset to balloon times it will be a great day in America if [...]

Supporting #WearRedDay for Women’s Health

tsetla — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:50:16 +0000

Heart health goes for everyone especially when you consider those who don’t exhibit the traditional signs and symptoms of men… Like women don’t… Are you wearing RED today?

Regional Approach to Cardiovascular Emergency – RACE

tsetla — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:28:59 +0000

An important first step in getting to know how STEMI Systems of care work from the fundamentals of getting along to the data sets that are required to measure there is a regional approach to it all designed by the folks in North Carolina. This is a great resource for anyone looking to get better [...]

Season One: Principle photography has ended

tsetla — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:44:42 +0000

As I write this update for our audience I am reminded just how quick this came and went. We visited Orlando Florida, Sioux Falls South Dakota and finally Dearborn Michigan. The goal of this initial season was to share what we learned about two very different STEMI systems and how they are doing it. What [...]

Share your #CodeSTEMI Story

tsetla — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:49:35 +0000

Inspired by Chris Cooper on twitter (@TheMrCooper) the reason we developed #CodeSTEMI was to inform, educate, entertain and share stories of dealing with STEMI in the field! If you have had a STEMI activation, tell us about it, what did you learn? How could it have been improved for the patient? for you as a [...]

Why are we doing this #CodeSTEMI thing?

tsetla — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:33:15 +0000

In our careers as first responders there has been very few times in history that a technology, scope of practice or community need has been introduced that we have had such an integral and life changing role in. In a world where cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death we can detect ST Elevation [...]

The importance of data collection and sharing

Tom Bouthillet — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:47:06 +0000

We had a wonderful time in Dearborn. I was welcomed as a brother at Dearborn Fire Department and got to learn about an awesome fire-based EMS system which made me happy. In addition, we met some motivated and passionate caregivers at Oakwood Hospital. They are doing some awesome things in Dearborn and it’s clear they’re [...]

What I learned in Dearborn

tsetla — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:27:27 +0000

Time is muscle, or that is what everyone says when it comes to a heart attack. It is one of the biggest causes of death in America and we emphasize all the time to exercise, eat right and stay healthy in order to avoid pre-mature cardiovascular disease. Hospitals have state of the art technology to [...]

The Oakwood Hospital experience

tsetla — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:07:52 +0000

We appeared at the lobby of the hotel at 8:15am to be met in the lobby with open arms by the Diva Tom Bouthillet and my Yang (Chris Eldridge) and the one quiet, but amazing Erik Denny. When we first came to the hospital I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but it was clear [...]

Heading back to the 313

Tom Bouthillet — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:37:22 +0000

Sometimes I really enjoy traveling. Other times, not so much. I’m a customer service fanatic and the airline industry ranks up there with the cell phone and insurance industries in terms of horrible customer experience (unless you’re a “Gold Medallion” member — then you’re special). Some examples: Having to pay $25.00 each way check a [...]

Doing our homework for the Dearborn trip

Tom Bouthillet — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:02:21 +0000

One thing we learned from Orlando and Sioux Falls is that it pays to be prepared! I’ve been doing some research about Dearborn Fire Department and Oakwood Healthcare System just to get a feel for what the system is like. Apparently Oakwood has donated several Lifepak 15s to Dearborn Fire Department. You can read about [...]

What’s in Michigan?

tsetla — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:52:36 +0000

In a few weeks time we will be heading to Dearborn Michigan for our final location where we will be traveling with the Dearborn Fire Department who has graciously given us full acces to film in their system. The Oakwood Hospital has also allowed us to come in and get to know how their STEMI [...]

STEMI Survivor Forrest “Mick” Stanton

tsetla — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:00:46 +0000

If you know Forrest Stanton then you would be calling him by the name “Mick”. Proud Grandfather of two was with his grandson on the day of his heart attack. He was in the middle of selling his family farm which was in the family for over 60 years. His mother had passed away and [...]

How do you change the world?

tsetla — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:02:57 +0000

One of the highlights of this trip for me was meeting the many people from the AHA and learning just how passionate they are despite the many struggles we all face in large organizations. The AHA is comprised of many partner organizations, Doctors, and surprisingly a lot of non medical personnel. “Our mission is to build [...]

The elusive jackalope

Tom Bouthillet — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:46:30 +0000

Spotted by Ted and Chris after Erik and I departed. So while I never realized my goal of getting a photograph of Erik with a jackalope somehow this photo makes me happy. I love you guys!

Watertown Fire Department, Prairie Lakes Health System and our STEMI Survivor

Tom Bouthillet — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:30:46 +0000

One thing Ted and I agree on is that we never want to “force” a story because that makes it fake and we want something real and authentic. So I was just a little bit worried about meeting our STEMI survivor. I imagined a reunion between life-savers and patient, a hug while the cameras were [...]

Spontaneity

Tom Bouthillet — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:00:25 +0000

I love how people get caught up in this project! What was supposed to be a quick 5-minute talk with Dr. O’Brien (retired cardiologist and President of Sanford USD) regarding the history of Sanford Health turned into a 25-minute “walking and talking” interview, including a tour of the new heart center!

Sanford USD Medical Center – How cool is this place?

Tom Bouthillet — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:30:56 +0000

Avera McKennan was a hard act to follow but Sanford USD didn’t disappoint! Make no mistake. These two health care systems are competitors. Both are outstanding examples of why I believe in non-profit health care. It doesn’t mean they don’t make money. It means they reinvest into their mission rather than pay out to share [...]

We’re filming them and they’re filming us!

Tom Bouthillet — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:30:57 +0000

I must have given six interviews to the news media yesterday. This is awesome because it’s helping to raise awareness of our project. But it’s more than that. As the host of the Code STEMI web series, it’s so much easier for me to help tell a story when the story wants to be told! South [...]

2nd Annual South Dakota STEMI Summit

Tom Bouthillet — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:00:26 +0000

It’s becoming so clear to me. There’s no limit to what can be accomplished when patient care comes first and politics comes second! This may not be mankind’s natural tendency but when it happens the boundaries melt away, systems are born, and the people who create those systems feel an immense sense of pride and [...]

Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center – Telemedicine on Steroids!

Tom Bouthillet — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:00:39 +0000

Our first morning of filming is now complete and my mind is racing! I’m not sure what I expected when I first heard about the eEmergency system and the eICU at Avera McKennan but what we saw was astounding! Of course we’re here to find out how they manage rural patients in South Dakota but [...]

Day one in Sioux Falls

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:51:59 +0000

There is nothing like laying your head down a 3am and know that you have to be up at 6am, but when it comes to production, you can’t account for all the issues that arrise you have to roll with it! This production is no different. Chris Eldridge and I flew in and was delayed [...]

Converging on South Dakota and all systems are go!

Tom Bouthillet — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:00:37 +0000

I love auspicious beginnings! While en route to Sioux Falls the in-flight Delta Sky Magazine had a special feature about Sioux Falls, SD and the health care system was a major part of the story! It’s ironic and unexpected to read about the two major health systems we’ll be looking at as part of South [...]

South Dakota – A look into a rural EMS Code STEMI Program

tsetla — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:26:56 +0000

As I pack up the gear and read through our itinerary for the this week I am inspired by what lies ahead. It is clear that we are heading to one of the most rural areas in the United States for a chance to meet with survivors, volunteers, first responders, hospital staff, administrators and medical directors to [...]

Official Press Release from the American Heart Association

tsetla — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:40:30 +0000

First Responders Network Code STEMI Series to Feature South Dakota’s Mission Lifeline Project Hollywood Film Crew to Cover SD STEMI Summit November 30 Sioux Falls, SD – The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline project in South Dakota will be featured on the First Responders Network’s new Web TV Series “Code STEMI” to highlight the project’s [...]