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Appreciative of Every Moment
As this Brick resident shares the story of his heart attack experience, it becomes clear that skilled
EMS care and Ocean Medical Center’s Chest Pain Center proved to be a lifesaving combination.
Time was ticking away — as was Gary Frost’s heart muscle — when his chest tightened painfully. In the middle of doing yard work, the 57-year old Brick resident recalls that he at first thought he’d simply pulled a muscle.
Taking a brief rest on his deck seemed to provide relief, but minutes later, back at work on his outdoor project, Gary felt a more intense pain that shot through his upper body. That pain then settled into what he calls "a crushing weight to my chest."
It was then that Gary feared he was having a heart attack.
A Quick Response Saves the Day
"I remember waking my daughter, who has had training in emergency services for her job," Gary says. "She said that I needed to get to the hospital right away." His memory of that day is foggy from there onward, but his grateful daughter, Anna, as well as his other family members, will never forget the teamwork that would save Gary’s life.
The quickness of Gary’s and Anna’s reactions shouldn’t be underestimated — it’s what started him on the road to recovery even before his cardiac crisis was over. The simple act of calling for emergency help within minutes of experiencing his pain greatly improved Gary’s prospect of a full recovery.
Maurice D. Weiss, M.D., board certified in cardiology, elaborates: "It is said that ‘time is muscle’ when having a heart attack. Lost time is equated to lost muscle, and so it is extremely important for people to not only recognize the signs of a heart attack, but to seek immediate medical assistance."
Seamless Coordination of Care
The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel transporting Gary to Ocean Medical Center’s Emergency Department were mindful of making every second count while in transit, staying in close communication with the hospital-based team while simultaneously providing emergency care in the ambulance.
With Ocean Medical Center just miles from the Frost home, the hospital’s Chest Pain Center team was ready to greet and treat Gary directly from the ambulance. "We were able to implement the protocols and processes of our chest pain program upon Gary’s arrival due in large part to the work of the emergency responders. As soon as Gary arrived at our door, we used the information they provided to us, assessed his current state, and quickly transported him to our Cardiac Catheterization Suite," explains Cheryl Meyer, R.N., Emergency Department assistant nurse manager.
The establishment of Ocean Medical Center’s Chest Pain Center ensures a consistency in the treatment approach and involves a continuum of care among multiple specialists, including physicians, nurses, and health care professionals from the Cardiology, Radiology, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Cardiac Catheterization, and Emergency Departments, along with EMS providers.
His Heart Will Go On
Less than an hour after his arrival, Gary’s diagnosis was confirmed: he’d suffered a heart attack when a main source of blood flow was cut off. A procedure was done — the insertion of a stent — to essentially open the blocked artery and save Gary’s life.
Today, Gary is well on the road to recovery, under Dr. Weiss’s watchful care. He’s taken his experience to heart and has made some healthy lifestyle changes to decrease the chance that he’ll have future complications.
He sees his cardiologist regularly, relishes in the laughter of his granddaughter, and beams when he talks about the care he received at Ocean Medical Center. "I can’t say enough about the people there. They were wonderful and did their jobs expertly. They saved my life."
 – Lynne Nouvel
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