Swift Artery Fix Wins St. Luke's Hospital Top Ranking

St. Luke’s Hospital was named a top performer for providing high quality, safe and cost-effective patient care for the second year in a row, as part of a voluntary nationwide improvement initiative.

"We are delivering on our commitment to provide the highest quality care possible to our patients," said Jan Hess, vice president.

St. Luke’s improved its performance and won top ranking through QUEST, an alliance of 278 high-performing hospitals across the nation.

One way St. Luke’s proved it deserved top ranking was providing 100 percent of its patients presenting with a particular type of heart attack—life-saving intervention within 90 minutes.

And half of those were treated within 60 minutes, according to a hospital spokeswoman. This was measured since 2008.

The hospital focused on a 90-minute door-to-balloon plan, recommended by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

Those heart patients got swift key treatment—such as balloon angioplasty or cardiac stents within 90 minutes of coming through the door of the hospital.

Increasing blood flow quickly decreases heart muscle damage and saves lives.

Typically, a tiny balloon-like device pushed through an artery might clear a path for blood flow, while a stent might prop open an artery.

The particularly serious type of heart attack measured in this performance initiative is caused by a blocked artery and called STEMI, which stands for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

The hospital used a multidisciplinary approach, with a team of physicians and other clinicians in emergency medicine and cardiac services, prepared to rally.

QUEST hospitals share ideas, best practices and create strategies to ensure patients get the right care at the right time and in the right manner, according to QUEST. An advisory panel of experts guides its members.

St. Luke’s is also the only Missouri hospital recognized as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals by HealthGrades (2007-2011.)

St. Luke’s Hospital, , is a 493-bed, not-for-profit hospital with care in more than 60 specialty areas. It serves the region with more than 20 locations across the greater St. Louis area.