Median Time from Emergency Room Arrival to Balloon Inflation – 2008 "Door-to-Balloon Time"

31 hospitals in Washington State perform percutaneous coronary interventions, or PCI. PCI is a method of restoring blood flow to the heart muscle by reopening clogged arteries. This is often done by inflating a tiny balloon at the site of the blockage, and sometimes putting in a small metal device called a stent to hold the artery open. Experts agree that when a patient is having an acute heart attack, the quicker this happens, the better. The longer blood does not flow to the heart muscle during a heart attack, the more likely there could be damage to that muscle.

Door-to-Balloon Time is a measurement of the time between when a patient having an acute heart attack comes through the “door” of the emergency room and when the “balloon” is first inflated in the clogged artery. The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology along with many other national agencies recommend that this time interval be no more than 90 minutes. All 31 of these hospitals participate in COAP, a statewide cardiac quality improvement program, and they are working to reduce their door-to-balloon times.

Results for this measure refer to the median door-to-balloon time for all Washington hospitals that perform PCI. The statewide median has decreased from 95 minutes in 2004 to 69 minutes in 2008, which is outstanding!

Ask your physician about door-to-balloon times at your hospital. Encourage them to ask about their COAP report regarding door-to-balloon time so they know you care!

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