Time is Muscle.

Research shows that patients with certain types of heart attacks are much more likely to recover fully if treated within 90 minutes. This includes a treatment known as coronary angioplasty, which requires a catheterization lab staffed by highly skilled physicians and clinicians. This type of catheterization lab is typically found only in metro areas, but often is not available in rural areas of the country.

Mercy's Level 1 Heart Attack Protocol evolved from the need to connect rural areas with this level of treatment. The program relies on a high degree of collaboration between community hospitals and the Mercy Heart Hospital.

The average time from patient arrival in the Emergency Department at Mercy to primary coronary intervention (PCI) is among the best in the nation, with Mercy’s average being 55 minutes. The national goal for time to treatment is 90 minutes or less.