Jacksonville, Florida, November 14, 2006 – This year, approximately 1,560 people who live in Jacksonville -- or about 4 every day -- will die from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). To help combat this silent and little-understood killer, St. Vincent’s Medical Center today announced the kick-off of Partners in Preventing SCA, a new campaign with a goal of saving lives.

 “The number of people we lose each year to sudden cardiac arrest is unacceptable,” said Scott Whalen, St. Vincent’s Chief Operating Officer.  “Across the country, deaths from sudden cardiac arrest are estimated to be 335,000 – and that may be conservative.  Some estimates are higher.  In spite of this, understanding of what sudden cardiac arrest is and what can be done about it is very, very low.  We want to change that, and we’re starting right here and right now.”

Sudden cardiac arrest is an abrupt loss of heart function caused by a rapid, chaotic disturbance of the heart’s natural rhythm. As part of its yearlong campaign, St. Vincent’s will take the lead in better educating both healthcare providers and the public about SCA and its risk factors.  The goal is to increase awareness of this leading killer and improve access to life-saving therapies. 
   
“Unfortunately, many people think sudden cardiac arrest and a massive heart attack are the same thing, and they are not,” said Dr. Anthony Magnano, an electrophysiologist at St. Vincent’s, the kind of physician who specializes in treating heart rhythm problems. “People need to understand what SCA is, who is at risk and how sudden cardiac arrest can be prevented. There are people walking around right now in our community who do not know their lives are at risk.  That is something we want to change.”

The beginning of St. Vincent’s Partners in Preventing SCA campaign coincides with the arrival of the mobile therapy-training unit designed by Medtronic. The 80-foot-long virtual treatment lab is designed to provide physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers a unique setting in which to learn more about patients at risk for SCA and what is available to help them. The mobile training center will visit 12 hospitals nationwide, including St. Vincent’s. 

Partners in Preventing SCA involves several elements, including the following that have either already begun or will be taking place in the Jacksonville area within the next 12 months:

• Primary Care Physician and nurse training on Medtronic’s Mobile Unit, a virtual electrophysiology lab; the realistic setting is unique for delivering caregivers education about sudden cardiac arrest.  Education sessions are scheduled November 13 – 15, 2006, at St. Vincent’s and will be repeated when Medtronic’s Mobile Unit returns in February 2007.
• Ongoing education of the public about early detection of SCA risk factors.  Information is available by calling the nurses at St. Vincent’s HealthLink (308-LINK) and is also available online at www.jaxhealth.com/heart-sca.  Upcoming SCA education programs and screenings will be held at St. Vincent’s and announced in the months ahead.
• The delivery of a total of 10 free automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to Jacksonville area organizations who can demonstrate their need for the devices and agree to complete training in how to use them.  An AED is one method of delivering an electric shock to the heart to stop what otherwise will become a lethal heart rhythm.

“In educating the public about cardiac disease, we have so far concentrated our efforts on the plumbing problems of the heart – arteries clogged with plaque,” said Dr. Mark Mostovych, a Cardiovascular Surgeon at St. Vincent’s.  “Now, we want to apply that same amount of effort to education about electrical problems of the heart.  Electrical problems that make the heart not beat properly can be minor, or they can be very serious.  Left undiagnosed and untreated – they can sometimes kill.”

Sudden Cardiac Arrest can happen to anyone, but some people are at greater risk, including:

• Heart attack survivors
• People who have heart failure
• Those who have survived an episode of SCA
• People with a low ejection fraction (measurement of the heart’s pumping ability)
• People with a family history of SCA

Betty Ann Holt knows firsthand what it means to have risk factors for a family history of SCA.  “I have lost three family members to sudden cardiac arrest,” said the 49-year-old woman who agreed to join Partners in Preventing SCA .  “I have a device implanted in my chest that protects me from what happened to my relatives.  They didn’t have access to life-saving therapies, but I do. Most deaths from this condition are needless.”

Wayne Byerly is also a patient with SCA who has agreed to join Partners in Preventing SCA. Like Betty Ann Holt, Byerly has a device implanted in his chest to protect him from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  “In my family, heart disease has begun early and taken its toll,” Byerly said.  “I am very blessed because I live in an age when technology has found answers to Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  I am alive today because that technology exists and because I have access to it."

SCA’s annual national death toll is more than breast cancer, lung cancer and AIDS combined. Defibrillation within six minutes is critical to survival – either through a device that physicians have implanted for patients at known risk of SCA or with an AED – an external device in healthcare settings and some large business settings like airports and convention centers.  During the yearlong Partners in Preventing SCA, a total of 10 AEDs will be given to Jacksonville organizations who demonstrate a need for them and agreed to complete training required to use them.  Organizations interested in receiving one of the AEDs can get more information by contact St. Vincent’s HealthLink at 308-LINK.

 “We are very pleased and very grateful to receive the first AED given as part of this campaign to prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest,” said Bill Hubbs of the Westside Soccer Club. “Hundreds of people of all ages are on our site at any given time. Six months ago, we looked into purchasing an AED but could not find it in our budget.  We will now be trained, equipped and ready to save a life if the day comes that someone experiences SCA at Westside Soccer Club.  We thank you for this gift of life.”

“We have a lot of work to do this year,” Dr. Magnano said.  “People are not aware that assessing risk for SCA is as quick and painless as an echocardiogram. Early identification and diagnosis of SCA can save lives.  We know that is true, and we are very excited about this partnership and what it will mean in our community.”