Beware of callers impersonating MyMichigan Health asking for credit card information. If you receive a suspicious call, request a call back number if possible and report that information to our security team at (989) 839-1911.

Learn More

Published on May 02, 2024

Local Medical Community Helps Cardiac Team Surpass Expectations

Group photo of Doctors Without Orders standing together, all wearing blue shirts.

The MyMichigan Health Foundation Alpena’s Annual Support Committee recently held Doctors Without Orders, a fundraising event in Alpena where physicians and advanced practice providers served meals to family, friends and community members while raising funds to support the Cardiac Stenting Program. More than 150 guests attended the sold-out event, where Mike Erickson, Medical Center president, and Renee Lamp, program manager, spoke about the new Emergent Heart Attack Intervention Program. The event raised more than $15,000. 

In late 2023, MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena began providing emergency percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) to patients experiencing ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most serious type of heart attack. The hospital started offering this service with a Certificate of Need from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The Certificate necessitates that the hospital successfully complete 36 interventions within a one-year time period, which started last October.

To provide such high levels of care, several units within the hospital and numerous EMS providers from throughout the northeast Michigan collaborated to create the Emergent PCI and Regional STEMI Alert Program. Once this goal is met, the hospital will be able to offer PCIs to both emergent and nonemergent patients.

The northeastern Michigan community has taken notice of the new PCI program, and many residents are assisting. In fact, recently, more than 150 community members showed their support by attending Doctors Without Orders, a dinner event that raised more than $15,000 for the new program. The event was successful greatly in part due to the enthusiasm of the volunteer providers who encouraged attendance from their friends, family and other health care workers. Attendees and volunteers came from MyMichigan Health, Alcona Health Center and Thunder Bay Community Health Service.

“We are so grateful for the overwhelming support of our community and the local physicians and providers who helped make Doctors Without Orders possible,” said Ann Diamond, fund development director, MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena. “Much of the PCI team was in attendance that night. It was heartening knowing they could see just how many people support their work. Thanks to everyone, the assistance of our event volunteers and the generosity of the community, we are that much closer to seeing this extremely worthwhile program become a permanent service line in northeast Michigan.”

Currently, 24 STEMI interventions have been successfully completed, surpassing the Certificate of Need’s mid-point goal ahead of schedule. For many of these patients, having local access to such interventions has saved their lives.

The Emergent PCI and Regional STEMI Alert Program is based on an established state protocol which approves up to a 90-minunte transport time to bypass the closest Emergency Department and take STEMI patients to MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, the nearest PCI Center. Upon arrival to the Emergency Room, the patient is taken to the cardiac catheterization lab so that blood flow can be quickly re-established to their heart through angioplasty and stenting. This program is designed to not only save lives, but also maximize a patient’s chance of recovery without loss of heart muscle or long-term complications.

Those who would like to more information or to support the Emergent PCI and Regional STEMI Alert Program, may contact Diamond at (989) 356-7738 or ann.diamond@mymichigan.org. Those interested in learning more about the Annual Support Committee or the Development Council supporting MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, may visit www.mymichigan.org/alpenadevelopmentcouncil.