What is a Heart Attack?
An acute myocardial infarction (AMI), also called a heart attack, happens when one of the heart’s arteries becomes blocked and the supply of blood and oxygen to part of the heart muscle is slowed or stopped. When the heart muscle doesn’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs, the affected heart tissue may die.
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.
Why is this important?
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.
How are we doing at providing the best care for patients suffering from heart attack?
The measures show how often patients receive beta blocker medication at time of discharge (when appropriate).
The graph shows how often our heart attack patients are receiving a beta blocker medication at time of discharge when appropriate. The higher the number the better. Top performers across the nation are reaching 100% compliance with this standard.
What efforts are in place to improve performance?
We continue to look at our performance on a monthly basis to assure we continue to meet the highest quality standards.