Heart attack network Hochfranken reaccredited

The heart attack network, to which the Sana Klinikum Hof also belongs, has been in existence for twelve years.

Picture (from left): Stefan Boese (ZRF Managing Director), Christian Schwarz (Deputy District Manager and Head of Rescue Service BRK Wunsiedel), Dr. med. Marco Schmidtmann (Chief Physician Internal Medicine Klinikum Fichtelgebirge), Peter Berek (District Administrator of Wunsiedel), Dr. med. Khaled Al-Kudaimi (Chief Physician of Cardiology at Klinikum Marktredwitz), Prof. Dr. med. Dr. phil. Anil-Martin Sinha (Chief Physician of Cardiology at Sana-Klinikum Hof), Dr. Silke Simank (Chief Physician of Cardiology at Klinikum Naila), Dr. Tobias Uhing (Medical Director of Rescue Service Hochfranken), Daniela Große (Operations Manager Hochfranken of RKT Rettungsdienst), Jörg von der Grün (District Managing Director BRK Hof), Mayor Eva Döhla, Dr. med. med. Holger Otto (Managing Director of Sana Klinikum Hof), Dr. Werner Schramm (co-founder of the Hochfranken Heart Attack Network), District Administrator Dr. Oliver Bär

Heart attacks remain one of the most common causes of death in Germany. Early detection and the fastest possible treatment lead to a higher probability of survival for heart attack patients. In order to ensure the best possible heart attack treatment, those clinics in Upper Franconia that treat heart attacks joined forces with the emergency services, the integrated control center, the KVB and the Association for Rescue Services and Fire Brigade Alerting in 2012 to form and accredit the Upper Franconia Heart Attack Network. At Sana Klinikum Hof, Klinikum Marktredwitz and Klinikum Naila, specialists are available around the clock to treat heart attack patients using cardiac catheters.

"The heart attack network has now been in existence for twelve years. The hospitals and emergency services have continued to improve processes through their collaboration, so that we can now proudly say that we have reduced the mortality rate in Upper Franconia," says Prof. Dr. med. Anil-Martin Sinha, Chief Physician and Head of the Cardiology Department at Sana Klinikum Hof. "We also want to prevent heart attacks from occurring in the first place. This is a noble task, but we are confident that we will succeed over the next twelve years."

The aim of the network is to ensure optimal and seamless care in the event of a heart attack. For example, the ambulance service transmits the patient's ECG from the scene to the target hospital so that processes can already be started there to enable the fastest possible treatment by means of cardiac catheterization if necessary. In addition, a direct discussion takes place between the emergency doctor and the hospital doctor in order to clarify any further specifics. Thanks to these defined procedures, the cardiac catheterization site can be prepared by the time the patient arrives at the hospital, saving valuable time until the heart's circulation is restored.

"In recent years, the number of people who have lost their lives as a result of a heart attack has fallen significantly. This is also due to the outstanding work carried out here by a large team," says District Administrator Dr. Oliver Bär. "In this respect, I am delighted that the heart attack network has once again been awarded a seal of quality, which also stands for the fact that human lives can be saved. We try to provide the best possible care for our citizens in the region. The heart attack network is a small but important piece of the mosaic."

The working group of Bavarian heart attack networks has now once again positively assessed the structures and work processes in Hochfranken, meaning that the heart attack network has been reaccredited. This is an outstanding joint achievement by all those involved, who have once again received a seal of approval for their work and offer significant added value in medical care for people in the Hochfranken rescue area.