KH . ORG 7 that day and continues to see him for follow-up visits. Dr. Jenkins also happens to be the medical director for Bonner County Emergency Medical Services and started the STEMI program over a decade ago. “Everyone did what we train them to do—from start to finish. I’m very proud of the program we’ve been able to build in this region,” said Dr. Jenkins. “I also told George in no uncertain terms that Sue saved his life by starting CPR immediately. She dragged him to the floor, and that angel of a 911 operator talked her through CPR until the ambulance crew took over.” George is fully aware how lucky he is to have had his wife and the STEMI-trained teams working to help him. He has made a full recovery and reports having good energy and feeling even more engaged in everything. “I wouldn’t switch doctors if I had to, and the nurses and everyone… they were so amazing,” George said. “It really is a gift from God that there are men and women who can work in such excellence—they saved my life. I’ll never forget them.” Support lifesaving care Kootenai Health’s Heart Center expansion helps serve our growing region. Lend your support at kootenaihealthfoundation.org. Special thanks to Bonner County Emergency Medical Services, Selkirk Fire, Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, Bonner General, Life Flight, 911 emergency dispatcher Jennine Whitt and our team at Kootenai Health. Ronald Jenkins, M.D., Kootenai Health interventional cardiologist andmedical director for Bonner County Emergency Medical Services George and Sue Bache visited first responders to thank them. They are shown here alongside members of the Selkirk Fire Department. Kate Knight, MSN, RN, Kootenai Health Stroke Coordinator Kootenai Health—a Level 1 STEMI Center Kootenai Health is a level 1 STEMI center—the highest designation given to hospitals that treat heart attacks. The designation is part of the state of Idaho’s Time Sensitive Emergency System, which acknowledges hospitals that meet a wide variety of proven metrics for high-quality training, education and services. The Kootenai Health STEMI program meets with regional criticalaccess hospitals many times each year to review cases and best practices. Regional partner hospitals include Benewah Community Hospital, Bonner General Health, Boundary Community Hospital, Clearwater Valley Health, Shoshone Medical Center, St. Mary’s Health and Syringa Hospital and Clinics. Over a one-year period, the team collaborated on an air-medical process with the goal of getting more patients hot-loaded and hot-unloaded from Life Flight. Hot loading or unloading is when the helicopter engines are on and the rotors spin while the patient report is received, assessments and interventions are performed, and the patient is loaded into the helicopter. This work resulted in an average time saving of 16 minutes. Special thanks to Kootenai Health Stroke Coordinator Kate Knight, MSN, RN, who drove the initiative.
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