CALVERT COUNTY, Md. — Calvert County officials are recognizing local emergency responders after MedStar praised their rapid response in treating a patient suffering a severe heart attack.
County officials said the incident occurred recently, when Calvert EMS crews were dispatched to assist a patient experiencing chest pain. Paramedic Joe Watson quickly identified the condition as a STEMI and transmitted a 12-lead EKG to MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center to request approval for air transport.
The patient was quickly loaded into the ambulance and transported to the hospital, where Maryland State Police Trooper Ryan Shea, who had just completed a shift with Trooper 7, offered assistance. Working alongside EMT Sam Sawall, the team helped ensure the patient received expedited care.
MedStar praised the coordination of Watson, Sawall and Shea, calling them “one of the quickest-responding crews” the hospital had seen all year, officials said.
County leaders said the recognition reflects the responders’ commitment to fast, coordinated lifesaving care.
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Wait. You mean our local hospital can’t handle an MI. Neither s. md hosp nor calvert can do open heart so why the needless transfer??? Good work to those EMS people. I hope the pt is okay. Time is tissue so why the needless transfer? Not very encouraging.
Southern Maryland has a cardiac catheterization lab where they can shoot dye into the heart vessels, find and potentially open blockages – they work closely with Washington Hospital to get patients who need surgery there