Thunder Bay Regional is receiving top marks for their work in heart attack care.

This is a huge improvement, as just four years ago they were ranked worst in the province.

Director of Cardiovascular Sciences Meaghan Sharp explains where the team has excelled this year.

“We have a 90 minute window that we are expected to get patients right out onto the table in the cath lab in that 90 minutes, so we’re first in the province for that.”

Sharp says this is so significant because during a heart attack, speed is everything.

“So we have a saying in the cardiac world, time is muscle,” explains Sharp. “So the faster we can get a patient that is suffering a heart attack into the cath lab, and be able to release that blockage in the artery, the better patient outcome.”

Thunder Bay Regional supports all of Northwestern Ontario for certain heart related care. Sharp says while this is a challenge, her team is supported by other services.

“We work with ORNGE to be able to make sure they are getting patients from those regional hospitals to Thunder Bay Regional as quickly as possible,” says Sharp. “That’s where we have a challenge compared to the rest of the province because our geography is quite large.”

Along with ORNGE, regional EMS plays a vital role in saving those having heart attacks.

The honours were handed out by CorHealth Ontario, the overseeing body for cardiac, stroke and vascular care in the province.