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Treatment After a Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)

When you’re treated for a heart attack at Providence, a team of cardiac specialists works together quickly to provide you with life-saving treatment. The next step is to get you feeling better for years to come. To do this, we work with you to create a personalized plan that includes everything from diagnosis and treatment to the post-care support you need to feel your best. We also help you make important lifestyle changes to reduce your future risk. The result is compassionate, whole-person care for your body, mind and spirit.

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Why Choose Us for Heart Attack Care?

At Providence, we see the life in you. We are committed to making a positive difference in every life we touch.

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Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, which is why we’re always looking for ways to make your experience better. If your treatment requires innovative procedures, we’ve got you covered. If you need extra support, we’re here to help. In one case, the family of our patient Elliot Naftzger was forced to drive three hours for routine heart monitoring. Her care team stepped in and helped bring a portable echo machine closer to her home.

Our improved referral process makes it easier for patients to stay with Providence, the network they trust. We’ve also introduced a program to help patients get faster care through virtual visits with a nurse practitioner. This patient-centered approach to care is why heart attack patients have trusted Providence for over 80 years.

If you’ve experienced a heart attack, the next step after getting treatment in one of our emergency rooms or Level 1 cardiac centers is to find out why it happened. We take a team-based approach to treating you after your heart attack. Why? Because we know this leads to the best results. Every Providence patient has access to world-class care from leaders in the field. Your multidisciplinary care team includes board-certified heart care specialists who have superior outcomes treating the most complex conditions. Your heart care team also works closely with dietitians to help you make heart-healthy food choices, physical therapists to help you keep living life to its fullest, and nurse navigators to coordinate your care with your primary care physician.

We understand that the impact of heart disease is greater in marginalized communities. Genetics plays a part, but unequal access to great health care is also a factor. At Providence, we value, respect and support the racial, ethnic, religious, gender, sexual and spiritual identities of all our patients. We are deeply committed to making sure everyone in our diverse communities has equal access to the best heart care. To do this, we offer location-specific services that help meet our patients’ needs. This includes translation for non-English-speaking patients, telehealth and transportation assistance. And we never turn a patient away, regardless of their ability to pay. Instead, we work harder to make sure every patient is treated equally and with dignity – whoever you are, and wherever you’re at.

As a patient at Providence, you belong to one of the largest community-based networks for heart care in the United States. This means your local heart care team shares knowledge and experience with other cardiac specialists across 51 hospitals in seven states. If specialty care is needed, your heart care team can easily reach the physicians with the most expertise. Take the story of heart attack patient Clayton Rodgers, who has had four heart attacks and eight complicated surgeries. He has relied on the Providence network not only for treatment but also to create a comprehensive rehabilitation plan to help restore his strength and health. The power of our network is one of the reasons 21,000 patients receiving treatment after a heart attack, and more than 400,000 heart patients, choose Providence each year.

Providence is well known for offering options – and hope – to patients seeking the most advanced therapies to treat heart attacks. Our researchers were the first to pioneer emergency surgery to repair heart arteries when treating a patient having a heart attack. This has helped change the way heart attacks are treated around the world – it’s now much less invasive. We also participate in national and international data registries that track cardiovascular outcomes. This helps us learn more to improve how we care for you. Our doctors and scientists also support groundbreaking research projects and connect patients to appropriate clinical trials. Our leadership helps us provide better heart care – and a better life – for you and your loved ones.

More About Heart Attacks

Most heart attacks are caused by coronary artery disease – when the blood flow that delivers oxygen to the heart becomes blocked by a fatty build-up known as plaque. Some people are more at risk of having a heart attack due to genetic factors, such as type 1 diabetes, while others have a higher risk of having a heart attack due to lifestyle factors, such as a lack of exercise. A heart attack is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. The expert cardiac teams at Providence use the most effective therapies to treat patients after every type of heart attack, including:

  • Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
  • ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)

Testing and Diagnostics

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Your heart care team uses many different methods to find out which therapies work best for you. They look at your symptoms, other medical conditions and overall health. They use the most advanced diagnostics to evaluate your condition. Depending on your case, this may include one or more of the following:

Personalized Treatment for a Heart Attack

We know that no two patients are the same. This is why your care team works with you to design an individualized treatment plan based specifically on your heart condition and your personal needs. Every treatment plan includes lifestyle changes to support your recovery and long-term heart health.

Your care plan may include one or more of the following therapies:

  • Coronary stents
  • Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
  • Prescription medications

Find Heart Care Close to You

Meet the Team

At Providence, you'll have access to a vast network of dedicated and compassionate providers who offer personalized care by focusing on treatment, prevention and health education.

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Patient Stories and Expert Tips for a Healthy Heart

Good sleep can improve men’s mental and overall health
6/17/2024
Providence Chief Medical Officer Dan Getz, D.O., explains how getting a good night’s sleep can improve men’s mental health and overall wellness.
Exercise and nutrition lead to optimal men’s health
9/26/2024
Providence Chief Medical Officer Dan Getz, D.O., says exercise and nutrition is key to men’s health and wellness, including strong heart and brain health.
Synergy at the Advanced Care Center
4/8/2024
With five specialty practices under one roof, patients experience optimal care with maximum convenience at the Providence Advanced Care Center.
Talking to an expert: The crucial role of nutrition in cancer care
3/19/2024
In honor of National Nutrition Month® Alyssa George, MA, RDN, program manager at Oncology Nutrition, Providence Cancer Institute, talks about the important connection between cancer and nutrition.