A $1 million donation by local supporter Priscilla Chou made the cardiac expansion at Legacy Salmon Creek possible

Southwest Washington resident Richard Blake, 54, was at work when he started to experience pain in his arm and indigestion that wouldn’t go away. “I finally called for help on my radio,” said the executive chef. “The EMTs started medicine and tests while I was in the ambulance. When they offered Legacy Salmon Creek as an option, I said yes. I got my routine care at Legacy Salmon Creek, and it was closer. Also, I knew I was having a heart attack.”   

Blake could go to Legacy Salmon Creek because it expanded its lifesaving cardiac services 24/7 for a growing Southwest Washington. The hospital’s Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) program is fully operational, allowing more patients experiencing a heart attack to receive this treatment locally without crossing the river.

According to Clark County EMS Medical Director Marlow Macht, M.D, MPH, the Legacy Salmon Creek cardiac expansion gives the growing Southwest Washington Community an added option. “As the community grows, this is an additional resource that allows us to provide timely care to Clark County residents,” said Dr. Macht. 

Dr. Macht says Clark County EMS uses the Pulsara system to notify hospitals that a patient is in route. 

“We launched this communication system several years ago to streamline and accelerate care for heart attack or stroke patients,” he said. “An electrocardiogram can be performed in the ambulance, and these results and other vitals are directly sent to the hospital before the patient arrives. The cath lab is activated from the field if a procedure is needed. This reduces the time it takes to open an artery and protect the heart muscle from further damage.” Dr. Macht said to dial 911 if experiencing any symptoms of a heart attack, like chest pain and discomfort in both arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, nausea, or sweating. 

PCI is a nonsurgical procedure performed in a catheterization lab that opens clogged heart arteries to improve blood flow to the heart. It reduces the amount of damage to the heart and saves lives. A type of heart attack called a STEMI occurs when a major heart artery is completely blocked. Access to a PCI-capable hospital and timely procedures are essential to saving lives. 

“Performing a PCI in less than 90 minutes of hospital arrival is a national benchmark to reduce significant damage to the heart and avoid loss of life,” says Mayank Agrawal, M.D., MPH, an interventional cardiologist and Legacy Salmon Creek medical director, who was hired to help grow the program. “Time loss translates into muscle loss. We need to get patients to the hospital quickly and be available 24/7. Taking care of a patient with STEMI heart attack requires establishing systems of care in the community, including seamless coordination between EMS, the emergency department, the cardiac catheterization lab, and ICU services.” 

 Dr. Agrawal estimates that roughly 500 people a year will benefit from an emergency or elective treatment that results in a PCI procedure at Legacy Salmon Creek. 

“By expanding this program at our hospital, we will improve patient outcomes in Clark County and surrounding areas by being able to treat more cardiac patients at our site around the clock instead of transferring them to another hospital,” said Dr. Agrawal. 

Legacy Salmon Creek President Jon Hersen is pleased to invest in a lifesaving program at their hospital that gives residents another option for this type of care. “At Legacy Salmon Creek, we continue to build new services and invest in technology that brings lifesaving patient care close to home,” said Hersen. “The PCI program at Legacy Salmon Creek delivers exceptional cardiac services here in Southwest Washington and further enhances our dedication to improving the health of our growing community.”

Fully recovered, Blake had a 90% blockage and had stents to open his blocked arteries. Blake is grateful. He has a less stressful job and enjoys his wife, a blended family of six children, six grandchildren, three dogs, and a new camping trailer.

A $1 million donation by local supporter Priscilla Chou made the cardiac expansion at Legacy Salmon Creek possible. These funds helped purchase PCI service equipment and expand the cardiology clinic. 

About Legacy Health

Legacy Health is a locally owned, nonprofit health system driven by our mission to improve the health of those around us. We offer a unique blend of health services – from wellness and urgent care to dedicated children’s care and advanced medical centers – to care for patients of all ages when and where they need us across the Portland/Vancouver metro area and mid-Willamette Valley. With an eye toward a healthier community, our partnerships tackle vital issues such as housing and mental health. Legacy strives to help everyone live healthier and better lives, with the vision of being essential to the health of the region. For more information, visit www.legacyhealth.org.