Five years ago March 15, the Maryland Healthcare Commission approved the hospital's ability to perform emergency percutaneous cardiac intervention or PCI. During a PCI, an interventional cardiologist uses a tiny balloon to reopen a blocked artery and restores blood flow to the heart. Research proved that hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery could safely provide emergency PCIs for patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction or STEMI.
In 2012, Meritus Medical Center performed 316 emergency or elective PCIs and more than 600 diagnostic cardiac catheterizations. Before receiving approval to perform these interventions, patients traveled to Baltimore or the Washington, D.C., area for treatment. Today, Meritus Medical Center performs the second highest number of cardiac interventions for non-surgical heart hospitals in the state of Maryland.
