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.
ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) are medicines used to treat patients with heart failure and are particularly beneficial in those patients with heart failure and decreased function of the left side of the heart.
Why is this important?
Early treatment with ACE inhibitors and ARBs in patients who have heart failure symptoms or decreased heart function after a heart attack can also reduce their risk of death from future heart attacks. ACE inhibitors and ARBs work by limiting the effects of a hormone that narrows blood vessels, and may thus lower blood pressure and reduce the work the heart has to perform. Since the ways in which these two kinds of drugs work are different, your doctor will decide which drug is most appropriate for you. If you have a heart attack and/or heart failure, you should get a prescription for ACE inhibitors or ARBs if you have decreased heart function before you leave the hospital. There may be some exceptions.
How are we doing at providing the best care for patients suffering from heart attack?
These measures show the number of eligible patients at Hartford Hospital who received an ACE or ARB as part of their discharge plan.
This graph shows the number of eligible patients at Hartford Hospital who received an ACE or ARB as part of their discharge plan. The higher the percentage the better. The top performing hospitals across the nation are performing at 100% accuracy.
What efforts are in place to improve performance?
We monitor every opportunity to assure 100% of the eligible patients are receiving these medications when appropriate. Every case is reviewed with the appropriate team for improvements.