The quality measure charts below compare New Hanover Regional Medical Center's quality performance in the treatment of heart attack patients to the national average and North Carolina average as reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov). The percentage scores show how frequently these select standard protocol procedures were completed in the treatment of heart attack patients. In all charts below a higher percentage score is better.

Heart Attack A heart attack is when blood vessels that supply blood to the heart are blocked, preventing enough oxygen from getting to the heart. The heart muscle dies or becomes permanently damaged. Your doctor calls this a myocardial infarction. Reporting Period: The charts below show the most recent data as reported by the U.S. Department and Health and Human Services, which is the period from April 2011 - Mach 2012.
Percentage of Heart Attack Patients Given Aspirin at Discharge
	Blood clots can block blood vessels. Aspirin can help prevent blood clots from forming or help dissolve blood clots that have formed. Following a heart attack, continued use of aspirin may help reduce the risk of another heart attack. Aspirin can have side effects like stomach inflammation, bleeding, or allergic reactions. Talk to your health care provider before using aspirin on a regular basis to make sure it's safe for you. Higher percentages are better.
Percentage of Heart Attack Patients Given Statin at Discharge
	Statins are drugs used to lower cholesterol. Cholesterol is a fat (also called a lipid) that your body needs to work properly. Cholesterol levels that are too high can increase your chance of getting heart disease, stroke, and other problems. For patients who have had one or more heart attacks and have high cholesterol, taking Statins can lower the chance that they’ll have another heart attack or die. This measure shows the percent of patients who had a heart attack who got a prescription for a Statin before discharge from the hospital. Patients who shouldn’t take Statins aren’t included in this measure. Higher percentages are better.
Percent of Heart Attack Patients Given PCI Within 90 Minutes of Arrival
	The heart is a muscle that gets oxygen through blood vessels. Sometimes blood clots can block these blood vessels, and the heart can't get enough oxygen. This can cause a heart attack. Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI) are procedures that are among the most effective ways to open blocked blood vessels and help prevent further heart muscle damage. A PCI is performed by a doctor to open the blockage and increase blood flow in blocked blood vessels. Improving blood flow to your heart as quickly as possible lessens the damage to your heart muscle. It also can increase your chances of surviving a heart attack. There are three procedures commonly described by the term PCI. These procedures all involve a catheter (a flexible tube) that is inserted, often through your leg, and guided through the blood vessels to the blockage. The three procedures are: Angioplasty - a balloon is inflated to open the blood vessel. Stenting - a small wire tube called a stent is placed in the blood vessel to hold it open. Atherectomy - a blade or laser cuts through and removes the blockage. Higher percentages are better.
Percent of Heart Attack Patients Given Fibrinolytic Medication Within 30 Minutes of Arrival
	The heart is a muscle that gets oxygen through blood vessels. Sometimes blood clots can block these blood vessels and the heart can't get enough oxygen. This can cause a heart attack. Fibrinolytic drugs are medicines that can help dissolve blood clots in blood vessels and improve blood flow to your heart. You should get them within 30 minutes of arrival at the hospital. Higher percentages are better.