Citrus Memorial Health System and the Nature Coast EMS (Emergency Medical System) are pleased to announce that the latest treatment for cardiac arrest patients is available in Citrus County. The treatment commonly referred to as "ICE", Induced Cooling by EMS, provides the best possible chance for survival following a cardiac arrest. 

From the moment Nature Coast EMS arrives on scene, ICE-trained paramedics follow established protocol to determine whether or not the patient is an eligible candidate for this treatment. If so, the process is then initiated in the field and our Emergency Department is notified of an ICE Alert. The Emergency Department personnel can then properly prepare for the patient’s arrival. Upon arrival, ICE-trained hospital personnel assume care of the critically ill patient. From the Emergency Department, the patient will be transferred to the Cardiovascular Recovery Room – a very specialized Intensive Care Unit. 

To help prevent damage to the organs and tissues, the body temperature is lowered and kept at a constant pre-determined value. Specific protocols are followed both while the patient is being cooled and also while being re-warmed. This mild hypothermic state provides the best possible chance for recovery for these patients. Dr. S. Michael Mikowski, a Cardiovascular Anesthesiologist with the Citrus Ocala Heart Institute, manages the patient’s care while in the Cardiovascular Recovery Room.

Through the collaborative efforts of Citrus Memorial Health System and Nature Coast EMS, Citrus County is now a great place to be if you suffer a cardiac arrest.

Pictured from left to right: Cathy Reckenwald and Ginger Bryant, Citrus County Schools; Rebecca West and Marcy Frisina, Citrus Memorial Health System.

Our Women's Heart Program recently made a large donation to the Citrus County School Board. Funds were raised through three large events including a 5k run and walk, wine tasting and jazz concert, and a "red tie" dinner at Black Diamond Ranch.

In 2008, the charity made a donation that enabled RN Rebecca West to teach American Cancer Society Heart Power Curriculum to Citrus County students throughout the 2008-2009 school year. She went to 60 2nd grade classrooms to teach over 1,200 students how to keep their hearts healthy using various hands-on activities. The kids had the chance to listen to their hearts, learn about nutrition, and even learned a song or two about staying healthy. Parents were also given information to reinforce what students were learning at school.

At the end of the school year each classroom was given a gift of exercise dice and media centers were given boxes that contain over 300 activities to get kids up and moving.

The donation of nearly $12,000 will enable the program to continue during the 2009-2010 school year.

Since the program was a great hit last school year, the Citrus County Schools Director of Food Service has already started planning some new additions to the menu. "He'll be adding some new fresh fruits and vegetables so that children can also eat what they learn," says Cathy Reckenwald, Citrus County Schools employee. "We are so incredibly fortunate to have Citrus Memorial Health System partner with us again for the 2009-2010 school year."

Citrus Memorial Health System is seeking help from heart patient survivors and other interested persons to join a local chapter of Mended Hearts, affiliated with the American Heart Association.

Mended Hearts, Inc. is a national nonprofit support organization that includes heart patients, spouses, healthcare professionals and others interested in helping patients with the emotional recovery from heart disease. With 280 community-based chapters nationwide, Mended Hearts has 24,000 members, making it the nation’s largest heart-related patient support group.

"Members assist cardiac patients with an extensive accredited visitors program, support groups, health information workshops, social and special events, and other volunteer activities," says Sharon Stewart-Dunn, Manager of the Cardiovascular Operating Room at Citrus Memorial, who is spearheading efforts to form a chapter here. "Mended Hearts has been offering hope and encouragement to heart patients, families and caregivers for 50 years, and the outreach and support is a proven benefit to the community."

Stewart-Dunn adds that while heart patient-to-patient visits are the core of the Mended Hearts' program, volunteers do not have to be a patient. "We want others in the community involved as well. Caregivers, family members of patients, physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals are a few examples of potentially interested people," she says.

According to the American Heart Association, 80 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease- directly or indirectly touching every household.

For more information contact The Citrus Memorial Heart Center at 344-6416.