Swedish Medical Center Becomes First in the Rocky Mountain Region to Offer Patients a New Heart Failure Monitoring Solution

Englewood, CO — [January 30, 2015] — Swedish Medical Center is the first facility in the Rocky Mountain Region to implant a new miniaturized, wireless monitoring sensor to manage heart failure (HF).

“At Swedish Medical Center we are relentlessly passionate about providing the absolute highest quality patient care, and that means having the most advances options available to our patients. Offering CardioMEMS ™ System is an example of the collaboration between our physicians, staff and cardiac leadership to maintain our reputation for being innovators in the quality of life and treatment of heart failure patients,” says Swedish Medical Center CEO, Mary M. White.

The CardioMEMS HF System is the first and only FDA-approved heart failure monitoring device that has been proven to significantly reduce hospital admissions when used by physicians to manage heart failure.

“This new wireless implantable sensor device is a potential “game changer” and a “paradigm shift” in the care of patients with congestive heart failure. It will allow early detection of changes in the internal fluid balance of a patient with congestive heart failure which will allow adjustments in treatment to be made before fluid retention causes trouble, explains Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Ira Dauber of Swedish Medical Center.

The CardioMEMS HF System features a sensor that is implanted in the pulmonary artery (PA) during a non-surgical procedure to directly measure PA pressure. Increased PA pressures appear before weight and blood pressure changes, which are often used as indirect measures of worsening heart failure. The new system allows patients to transmit daily sensor readings from their homes to their health care providers allowing for personalized and proactive management to reduce the likelihood of hospitalization.

“Patients with congestive heart failure are prone to fluid retention which is what causes the symptoms of congestion, such as difficulty breathing and leg and body swelling, that characterize congestive heart failure,” says Dauber.

Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 5.1 million Americans have heart failure, with 670,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Patients with heart failure are frequently hospitalized, have a reduced quality of life and face a higher risk of death.

The CardioMEMS sensor is designed to last the lifetime of the patient and doesn’t require batteries. Once implanted, the wireless sensor sends pressure readings to an external patient electronic system. There is no pain or sensation for the patient during the readings. The CardioMEMS HF System allows the patients to transmit critical information about their heart failure status to a clinician on a regular basis, without the need for additional clinic or hospital visits. This provides clinicians with the ability to detect worsening heart failure sooner and adjust treatment to reduce the likelihood that the patient will need to be hospitalized.

“I don’t have to worry about my lungs filling up with fluid anymore and I’ll be able to breathe,” says patient Richard Damico.

Data from a clinical trial showed that the CardioMEMS technology reduces heart failure hospital admissions by up to 37 percent. The CHAMPION trial studied the effectiveness of the CardioMEMS HF System in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification System class III heart failure patients who had been hospitalized for heart failure in the previous 12 months. Results of the trial demonstrated a statistically significant 28 percent reduction in the rate of heart failure hospitalizations at six months, and 37 percent reduction in heart failure hospitalizations during an average follow-up duration of 15 months.

Roughly 1.4 million patients in the U.S. have NYHA Class III heart failure, and historically these patients account for nearly half of all heart failure hospitalizations. According to the American Heart Association, the estimated direct and indirect cost of heart failure in the U.S. for 2012 was $31 billion and that number is expected to more than double by 2030.

“This new technology continues our commitment to improve the care and quality of life of our patients with congestive heart failure problems. Importantly it empowers the patient to play an active role in their treatment, says Dauber.

The CardioMEMS HF System, from global medical device manufacturer St. Jude Medical, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercial use in the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.heartfailureanswers.com/.

About Swedish Medical Center
Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado, part of HealthONE, serves as the Rocky Mountain Region’s referral center for neurotrauma and as the region’s first Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Cen¬ter, a recognized leader in the most advanced stroke care. Swedish offers patients the highest quality care and the most advanced technologies and treatments in nearly every medical specialty and is an eight-time winner of the National Research Corporation Consumer Choice Award and a Top 100 Hospital recognized by Reuters. An acute care hospital with 368 licensed beds, Swedish is located in the south metro Denver area where it has been a proud member of the community for more than 100 years. Annually, Swedish cares for more than 200,000 patients with a team of 2,000 dedicated employees, 500 volunteers and more than 1,300 physicians.

MEMS Cardiac video

Going the Distance for Quality Care

“Nothing is going to stop me from taking a cruise with my daughter to celebrate her finishing graduate school,” said Karla D. “I’m a single parent of one daughter, all she has is me.”

Anyone touched by cancer knows, when faced with this fight, so many elements can affect your outlook. At Swedish Medical Center, we believe in empowering patients, their caregivers and everyone around them to ensure the best possible outcomes. Our expert medical and nursing staff work together to offer comprehensive, compassionate care from diagnosis into survivorship. The staff you meet at the Oncology Infusion Center are no exception.

Going the Distance for Quality Care

Karla D is a retired school teacher from Grant, Nebraska who now drives to Englewood Colorado every three weeks for chemo. “It may be more inconvenient for me to drive like I do, but the quality of care and support I receive here, you can’t put a price on it.”

It was only 5 months after Karla retired that abdominal pain put a stop to her plans to travel to Africa to celebrate her new found freedom. Doctors in Nebraska preformed two biopsies and still had no definitive results. “I was getting anxious and frustrated,” says Karla. A friend and physician recommended she make the trip to Swedish Medical Center and see Oncologist Dr. Kevin Davis, M.D.

Finally able to get a diagnosis, it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. A family history tells the story of a long line of lung cancer, but not what her MRI revealed; 3+ stage ovarian Cancer. “By then I knew it was there,” says Karla. “I knew there was a problem, but I said it’s time to start attacking it.”

Attacking her cancer with amazing caregivers by her side makes it manageable. Two people making a difference in Karla’s treatment are Nancy and Karen. Both RN’s who work with Dr. Davis and in the Oncology Infusion Center, Karla says the relationship with them is invaluable. Karla’s team is here for her every three weeks when she makes the 200+ mile drive for her treatment.

The physicians and staff at Swedish recognize Karla for her determination in survivorship. She has her eye on the prize, being with her daughter to celebrate her graduation, her drive is inspirational. “Life goes on,” says Karla. “I’m not about to give up living.”

Join us, as Swedish Medical Center celebrates Karla and those who are taking survivorship to the next level. If you are a cancer survivor, either still in treatment or in remission, a caregiver, friend or family member, join us for a day of education and empowerment. We are celebrating the way you THRIVE!

THRIVE is a FREE one-day event from 10AM – 3PM at the Crystal Rose in Littleton. Join us to learn about the Elements of Survivorship from laughter to nutrition, exercise to meditation. If you are a cancer survivor or caregiver, this event is for you, to celebrate you!

Are You One of Colorado’s 20,820 Cancer Survivors?

If You’re a Cancer Patient, Survivor or Caregiver, You Owe It To Yourself to THRIVE!

Swedish Medical Center invites you to a very special event as we honor our state’s estimated 20,820 cancer survivors.  Join us at THRIVE for a day of education and empowerment as you meet others who have walked a very similar journey.  The expert oncologists and medical staff from Swedish will also be on hand to share stories of success and healing techniques, nutritional insight and ways to balance your new life.  We’ll also have a very special expo of area companies and organizations who support the cancer community with integrative wellness skills.

THRIVE is free to attend, but you must register online to take full advantage of what the event offers.  Details are found here, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Date:  Saturday, November 8, 2014

Time:  10am – 3pm

Place:  Crystal Rose – Littleton  8351 Southpark Lane   Littleton CO  80120

Register:  www.SwedishThrive.com

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Family Care Nurse Shares Her Experience of Becoming the Patient

By Guest Blogger: Ashlie Gates, RN

I am a family care nurse at Swedish Medical Center. Each day, I get the chance to teach eager and excited parents how to care for their new baby. I enjoy building relationships with these patients and their families and helping them feel confident and ready to care for their child when they leave the hospital. Recently, I got to experience the other end of this nurse/patient relationship. Nine months ago, I gave birth to my first child at Swedish Medical Center. I chose to deliver my daughter at Swedish because I just couldn’t imagine trusting anyone else with such a big moment in my life. It was the best decision I could have made.

I knew my co-workers were great, but I truly didn’t understand how great they were until I became their patient. My nurses were fabulous in both the Labor and Delivery and Family Care units. My labor and delivery nurse talked me through each procedure and helped me explore relaxation and pain management techniques during my labor. She was a wonderful cheerleader and helped boost my confidence to get through it.

My nurses in Family Care were there to assist me with my every need. It would have been easy for them to leave me alone assuming I knew what I was doing but they made sure they were there assisting me along the way. They also really took my husband under their wing. This was his first experience with a baby; they were patient and caring with him in showing him how to care for our daughter from changing her diaper to swaddling her for
the first time.

Experiencing the Women’s Services Department at Swedish Medical Center from the patient’s perspective has given me a whole new respect for my coworkers and I believe it has truly made me a better family care nurse. Because of my experiences as a nurse and a patient, I know that I can say with confidence, when you
deliver your baby at Swedish you will be getting the best care possible!  I often find myself telling people that I have the best job in the world!

Nurse Saves Co-Worker From Choking

Karen Ruberg, 7th floor nurse at Swedish Medical Center is thanking her co-workers for saving her life. “If I wasn’t at work, I might have died,” says Karen.

During a busy night shift on May 7th, Karen was trying to take a break and eat dinner between patients. Within seconds of taking a bite, a piece of chicken lodged deep in her throat. “I couldn’t cough, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t get any air in,” explains Karen. She rushed out to the nurse’s station hoping someone was there during the 1am hour. Thankfully, fellow nurse Sharon Bobel just happened to be charting and saw that Karen was in distress.

Sharon immediately performed the Heimlich on Karen but after two tries was unsuccessful. Another co-worker, nurse Jean Brady came to their aid. “Karen was starting to turn blue,” says Jean. “I gave her one big thrust and the chicken came flying out.” Karen says it was the scariest moment of her life but thanks God her co-workers came to her rescue. “They saved my life,” says Karen. “It all happened so quickly, but they jumped right in and I’m so grateful.”

All of them say, it was a humbling experience and a reminder of their important jobs as nurses. They are in the business of saving patient’s lives and don’t have to think twice about helping to save each other’s.

Swedish Medical Center to Spend $50 Million on Neuroscience Hospital Expansion

Swedish Medical Center, the region’s leading stroke and neuroscience center, is pleased to announce it is moving forward on a $50 million expansion. In an effort to further align its neuroscience services; this is the second largest expansion in recent Swedish history.

Highlights include:
• Adding needed critical care beds and medical surgical beds, both of which maintain high occupancy levels today.
• Adding 65,000 square feet to the campus and renovating 28,000 square feet.
• Creating 39 incremental beds that will be dedicated to our neuroscience program.
• Constructing two additional floors to our south tower resulting in new neuroscience, medical and surgical beds.
• Constructing a new neurocritical care unit to address more significant patient needs and volume.
• Redesigning a new lobby and entrance to the neuroscience portion of the hospital, creating a workspace for our neuroscience program to collaborate more efficiently.
• Purchasing an additional outpatient 3T MRI for advanced neurological imaging.

“We are extremely excited for this investment by HealthONE in our neuroscience program,” said Mary White, President and CEO Swedish Medical Center. “We truly are the region’s number one neuroscience and spine program, and this expansion ensures we continue down that path. We plan to continue having our community say, Take me to Swedish!”

Swedish Medical Center has long been the region’s leader in neurosciences, as evidenced by these accomplishments and designations:
• The first hospital in the Rocky Mountain region to receive a Primary Stroke Center designation from the Joint Commission in 2004.
• In 2013 Swedish became the first hospital in the region to earn the Comprehensive Stroke Center designation from the Joint Commission.
• Also in 2013, Swedish received the “Get with the Guidelines” GOLD Stroke designation from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.
• Swedish has the fastest growing Deep Brain Stimulation program in the region.
• Finally, Swedish Medical Center treats MORE strokes, FASTER:
• Door to Neurology Evaluation: 7.5 minutes compared to the national goal of 20 minutes
• Door to CT First Slice: 17 minutes compared to the national goal of 25 minutes
• Door to IV t-PA started: 40.8 minutes compared to the national average of 60 minutes or less
• 26% of patients taken to Swedish receive IV t-PA compared to the national average of 5%
Because of his dedication to stroke care, program quality and growth at Swedish and throughout the region, Chris Fanale, M.D. has been named the chair of the neuro hospital planning committee.

“This expansion will add much needed beds, infrastructure and technology to our campus,” said Fanale. “We are ensuring a foundation for the many years of growth ahead.”

Additionally what sets Swedish Medical Center apart from other neuroscience programs in the region is their highly recognized Acute Inpatient Rehab Facility, relationship with HealthONE’s Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital, and the shared campus and collaboration with two renowned neuroscience institutions including Craig Hospital and the Colorado Neurological Institute.

Swedish Medical Center’s Acute Inpatient Rehab Facility is ranked among the top facilities in the country. It was recently named “Top Performer” by the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation. Swedish Acute Rehab is an important part of the pathway to recovery, celebrating milestones and regaining independence for neurological patients.

Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital was the first licensed Acute Rehab Hospital in the state and is a part of the HealthONE family of hospitals. With over 45 years of experience, Spalding offers clinical expertise in treating traumatic brain injury patients.

Swedish Medical Center is fortunate to have the campus of Craig Hospital adjacent to its own. Craig has been a world-renowned specialty neurorehabilitation hospital for patients with spinal cord injury and brain injury since 1956.

Colorado Neurological Institute (CNI) is a 25-year-old not-for-profit that currently facilitates 50 clinical trials, provides care coordination to outpatients with neurological conditions, and operates an outpatient rehab program.

Construction will begin in the fourth quarter of 2014 and is expected to take place over approximately three years.

Swedish Medical Center Announces Partnership with Loveland Ski Club: Love What Moves You!

(Englewood, CO) Swedish Medical Center is proud to announce a three year, exclusive partnership with the Loveland Ski Club: Love What Moves You. The partnership is generating extra excitement as both Swedish Medical Center employees and Loveland Ski Team members are glued to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games to see the young favorite Mikaela Shiffrin compete. Over the past 4 years Shiffrin has competed and trained at Loveland Ski Area in preparation. Shiffrin placed fifth in her Olympic debut, missing a medal by 0.23 seconds in the Giant Slalom. At only 18 years old, Shiffrin is a favorite in the upcoming Ladies’ Slalom.

The relationship between Swedish Medical Center and Loveland Ski Club is one that will provide education and injury prevention for club members and their families as well as medical directorship of the club. Additionally, Swedish Medical Center provides a one-call option to club members and their families for healthcare resources: 1-855-SWEDSPRT (1-855-793-7778).

“Skiing is such a part of the culture of Colorado,” said Mary M. White, President and CEO Swedish Medical Center. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of not only a Colorado past time, but also a club and a mountain that attracts skiers from across the Front Range. It’s members of our community that are enjoying skiing at Loveland and we want to serve them in every way that we can.”

The Loveland Ski Club consists or more than 100 racers, ranging in age from five to 20-years-old, 12 coaches and 82 families who live throughout the Front Range.

“Partnering with Swedish is a natural fit for us,” said John Hale, Director of Loveland Ski Club. “They are such a figure in the community, they are a Level One Trauma Center and while they have expertise in the types of injuries we can see in this sport, they also have a commitment to education throughout the community.”

The health education and injury prevention will be a combination of programs selected by and created for the club members and their families, as well as seminars from the Spirit of Women program providing age appropriate and relevant health and wellness topics. Seminars are open to the public and include everything from, ‘It’s a Slippery Slope: Injury Prevention’ to ‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot’ a seminar about teenage vaccines.

Medical directorship is provided by Orthopedic Physicians of Colorado and if needed, the orthopedic trauma team consisting of Wade Smith, MD and Steve Morgan, MD in the event of a traumatic injury.

“We believe in education and injury prevention,” said John Reister, MD of OPC. “We also understand that ski racing is an extreme sport and injuries do happen. We are excited to provide fast, quality, comprehensive care to the racers and families of the Loveland Ski Club.”

This partnership is another way Swedish Medical Center is continuing their long tradition of being involved in the community they serve and providing education and comprehensive care. For more information visit www.SwedishHospital.com or visit us at our booth at one of the many races hosted by the Loveland Ski Club throughout the season.

 

About Swedish Medical Center (www.SwedishHospital.com)

Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado, part of HealthONE, serves as the Rocky Mountain Region’s referral center for neurotrauma and as the region’s first Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, a recognized leader in the most advanced stroke care. Swedish offers patients the highest quality care and the most advanced technologies and treatments in nearly every medical specialty and is an eight time winner of the National Research Corporation Consumer Choice Award and a Top 100 Hospital recognized by Reuters. An acute care hospital with 368 licensed beds, Swedish is located in the south metro Denver area where it has been a proud member of the community for more than 100 years. Annually, Swedish cares for more than 200,000 patients with a team of 2,000 dedicated employees, 500 volunteers and more than 1,600 physicians.

About Loveland Ski Club
Our goal is to provide world-class alpine ski training, close to home, combined with exceptional coaching and curriculum. We offer a high-quality, dedicated training environment that is meticulously prepared, technologically advanced and well-staffed. In this setting, an athlete has every opportunity to reach his or her potential, whether that be a lifelong love of the sport, USSA competitions, FIS racing, the Collegiate ranks, the National team, World Cup, or the Olympic Games. We provide this training in a unique setting that allows an athlete to live in their own family home, attend their own school and still have essential access to world-class training. In this pursuit, we are passionately committed to acquiring, developing, and perfecting fundamental skills. We place a priority on helping our athletes develop their fundamental skills because we firmly believe that these fundamentals provide the structural basis for becoming both a successful racer and lifetime skier.

 

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A Wounded Warrior’s Story of Recovery

Taking orders isn’t something Senior Master Sergeant Martin Smith is used to. The active duty Air Force member and father of four is usually the one telling others how things are done. But a recent turn of events in Martin’s life led him to become the one taking orders from his doctors at MOTUS also known as Mountain Orthopedic Trauma Surgeons at Swedish.

In August 2012, Martin was on his way home from work in Colorado Springs. This was a commute he often traveled on his motorcycle. “There was a lot of construction that day,” said Martin. “I wasn’t aware that the road was down to one lane and as I braked, I slide downhill, swerved and hit the car in front of me.” Martin severely broke his left leg in multiple places. Lying on the ground, he knew there was a big problem due to the amount of blood coming from his leg. He took his belt and made a tourniquet to stop the bleeding as someone else from the scene came to his aid. “This guy came to help me and held the tourniquet in place until AirLife came to take me to the hospital,” explains Martin.

He was rushed to Swedish Medical Center where he was immediately assessed by orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Wade Smith. “Martin had suffered an open tibia fracture,” explains Dr. Smith. “Not only were bones of the leg shattered, the skin and muscles were torn off leaving the bone exposed to infection.” Due to the severity of Martin’s injury, Dr. Smith was unable to save his entire leg. “In some cases of severe limb trauma, amputation is unavoidable and in fact, can provide better long term function than a severely damaged leg. However, it is critical to use all means to preserve as much of the limb as possible to enhance future function and return to life,” says Dr. Smith. Martin underwent a below knee amputation.

“I was in a state of shock and never thought I was going to lose some of my leg,” said Martin. “I wasn’t really able to soak it all in until after surgery.” He received a prosthetic and did months of post-surgery therapy. “It was a stressful time for me but Dr. Smith always knew what to say to calm me down in the situation. One thing he said that changed my life around was to stop being a patient and start being an athlete again, so I did.”

Martin swam competitively in high school and has always considered himself athletic. Shortly after his conversation with Dr. Smith, Martin received the chance of a lifetime and was asked to be a part of the 2013 Warrior Games.

The Warrior Games showcase the spirit of competition for wounded, ill or injured service members from all military branches. He made the swim team and won the silver medal in the below knee amputee category. “It was one of the greatest moments of my life and one of my biggest accomplishments,” said Martin. “Dr. Smith was really my motivation to go beyond what I believed I could do at that point in time in my life.”

“I’m glad that as a team, we were able to get Martin back to where he once was in his life. He is an extraordinary person who just needed a little support to believe in himself again,” said Dr. Smith.

Martin plans on retiring from the military this year and may consider competing in the Warrior Games again next year. His goal is to ride a motorcycle and share this hobby with his wife again. Martin says he owes his current life to Dr. Smith and MOTUS and the medical expertise they gave him during the most difficult time of his life. “I want to thank Dr. Smith for kicking my butt and getting me back to living my life!”

 

Swedish Breast Care Program Receives NAPBC Accreditation

Englewood, CO – Swedish Breast Care Program In Partnership with Invision Sally Jobe Breast Center has been granted a three-year/Full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.

Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. During the survey process, the center must demonstrate compliance with standards established by the NAPBC for treating women who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast disease. The standards include proficiency in the areas of: center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement. Through this NAPBC accreditation the Swedish Breast Care Program In Partnership with Invision Sally Jobe Breast Center has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease.

“This accreditation is exciting because it really brings attention what we have believed in providing for our patients all along – the highest quality care with the best possible outcomes,” said Jane M Kercher, M.D. “Our Breast Center is collaborative right from the point of diagnosis, into treatment and survivorship. We work together to provide the region with an unparalleled continuum of quality care.”

The NAPBC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to the improvement of the quality of care and monitoring of outcomes of patients with diseases of the breast. This mission is pursued through standard-setting, scientific validation, and patient and professional education. Its board membership includes professionals from 20 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of breast care.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that there would be 232,340 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States in 20131. In addition, hundreds of thousands of women who will deal with benign breast disease this year will require medical evaluation for treatment options.

Receiving care at Swedish Breast Care Program In Partnership with Invision Sally Jobe Breast Center, a NAPBC-accredited center ensures that a patient will have access to:

• Comprehensive care, including a full range of state-of-the-art services
• A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best treatment options
• Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options

And, most importantly,

• Quality breast care close to home.

For more information about the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, visit their Web site at http://www.accreditedbreastcenters.org.
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1. American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2013. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2013
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Swedish Medical Center First In State For Joint Commission Award In Cardiovascular Services

Awarded in Multiple Coronary Specialties and Receives Mission: Lifeline Recognition by American Heart Association

(Englewood, Colorado) Swedish Medical Center
has been reaccredited by The Joint Commission for Cardiovascular Services and continues to be the only hospital in the state with accreditations in Advanced Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Bypass and Coronary Artery Disease. They have also received Mission: Lifeline Gold Level status recognition by the American Heart Association for the second year in a row. 

“This achievement acknowledges the exceptional care our Cardiology team provides patients in the Denvermetro
area and beyond,” said Mary M. White, President and CEO of Swedish Medical Center. “Their dedication to quality healthcare deserves to be recognized.”

The Heart Center at Swedish Medical Center offers
comprehensive cardiac care for patients through
coordination of EMS responders, the Emergency
Department, and an experienced team of healthcare
professionals who ensure patients receive appropriate
and timely care for their condition.

“The Cardiovascular Services Team has worked hard
to provide the community with a comprehensive
program from chest pain to heart attacks to open
heart surgery and chronic illness such as heart failure.
We strive to provide the best possible experience
for our patients based on national standards,” says
Associate Chief Nursing Officer and Cardiac Services
Director Paula Grassmick.

Hospitals recognized by the American Heart Association for the Mission: Lifeline Gold award have demonstrated their ability to provide cardiac care at the highest level for patients with STEMI type heart attacks, the most life threatening heart attack, for at least two years. At a Gold Level hospital, all heart attack patients have rapid access, skillful and timely intervention and the highest level of on-going heart care treatment following the latest American Heart Association guidelines. Swedish’s median door-to-balloon times for cardiac alert patients are among the best in the region.

“This achievement is validation of the innovative care that we offer here at Swedish. Our cardiac team has worked very hard to bring the best care to our patients and The Joint Commission and AHA have seen that expertise and chosen to recognize us for it,” says Deborah O’Neill, Cardiovascular Nurse Practitioner.

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About Swedish Medical Center (www.SwedishHospital.com)
Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado, part of HealthONE, is a Level 1 Trauma Center and Joint-Commission-accredited Stroke, Cardiology and Cancer Center. Swedish has the highest quality care and the most advanced technologies and treatments in nearly every medical specialty and is an eight time winner of the National Research Corporation Consumer Choice Award and a Top 100 Hospital recognized by Reuters.
An acute care hospital with 368 licensed beds, Swedish is located in the south metro Denver area where it has been a proud member of the community for more than 100 years. Annually, Swedish cares for more than 200,000 patients with a team of 2,000 dedicated employees, 500 volunteers and more than 1,300 physicians.