The use of portable defibrillators by first responders is critical to saving lives

(Sharon, PA) – August 30, 2016 – Who better to understand that time is essential in an acute coronary episode, other than physicians, themselves. At a recent meeting of the executive committee of the medical staff at Sharon Regional Medical Center, the group discussed that for individuals who experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting, the faster a portable defibrillator can be used, the greater the chance the patient has to survive. As the region’s only certified Chest Pain Center, the medical leadership committee agreed that ensuring that first responders are armed with the most up to date tools necessary to quickly respond to a cardiac arrest can often decrease damage to the heart and quite possibly save lives. The group decided to take action and committed to supply seven area police departments with portable AEDs or automated external defibrillators.

Those AEDs will be awarded at a special luncheon scheduled for Wednesday, August 31, 2016 from 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. at Sharon Regional Medical Center.

“Portable AEDs will be added to our local police department’s cruisers so that each city will have an AED in each and every police car on their roads,” stated Howard Slemons, D.O., president of the medical staff. “The medical staff at Sharon Regional Medical Center is happy to make this contribution to our local police departments in assisting them to save lives throughout our communities.”

The donated equipment includes 20 defibrillators with cases, 20 infant/child defibrillators, 20 fast response kits and 40 smart pads. The estimated value of the equipment is $47,300.

The police departments receiving the AEDs include:

• Brookfield Police Department, Brookfield, Ohio
• Hubbard Township Police Department, Hubbard, Ohio
• Hubbard City Police Department, Hubbard, Ohio
• Farrell Police Department
• Hermitage Police Department
• Sharon Police Department
• Sharpsville Police Department

“The medical staff understands the value of supplying these devices to local police. We have done so previously, and in fact, were one of the first to supply AEDs to police departments in Ohio and Pennsylvania,” noted Robert Morgenstern, M.D., chief medical officer at Sharon Regional. “As the leader in cardiac care for our patients, by supporting our local police departments, it is one way in which we are able to invest in the community and the people who live and work in the area.”

In 2015, Sharon Regional received full Chest Pain Center with PCI Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). This 3-year accreditation is in recognition of the hospital’s commitment to the highest standards in the country for heart attack care.

Additionally, Sharon Regional recently received notification from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry that it has been awarded the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR ACTION Registry– Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2016. Sharon Regional is one of only 223 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.

About Sharon Regional Medical Center
Sharon Regional Medical Center has provided health care services to the region for more than 122 years. Mercer County’s largest hospital and healthcare system consists of a 251-bed Joint Commission accredited hospital, along with 22 satellite centers in Sharon, Hermitage, Mercer, New Castle, and Hubbard. Sharon Regional offers specialized services including Behavioral Health, Breast Care, Cancer Care, Diabetes, Emergency Care with specialized stroke and heart attack care, Mercer County’s only open heart/angioplasty/advanced heart care and stroke centers, Rehab, Sleep Medicine, Sports Medicine, Inpatient Rehabilitation, School of Nursing, School of Radiography, Wound Recovery Center, and Women’s Center.