'Calling 911 was the right choice’ 

Minutes to receiving lifesaving care

“Nobody wants to believe it’s happening to them,” shared Mary Wiemiller, age 76, reflecting on the morning of Jan. 1, 2024, when she began to experience pressure in the center of her chest. Mary and her husband, Tom, were up early, preparing to leave their Winsted home for a morning flight to Mexico to escape the winter ahead.

“We were making our bed when my chest began to hurt,” Mary explained. “Initially, I was in denial because I wasn’t having the sharp chest pain commonly associated with having a heart attack. This felt different. I was feeling pain in my upper back, too, across my shoulders. It was an unusual ache that I had also experienced previously during the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Heart attack symptoms may be different for women than men

“During a heart attack, it is typical for both women and men to experience chest pain, but it's much more common for women to experience less severe pain or even no chest discomfort. They may also experience other associated symptoms,” explains Matthew Herold, MD, emergency physician and Ridgeview’s Chief Medical Officer.

“Women may have discomfort in the upper abdomen, back, neck, jaw or arms. Often, women may experience more nonspecific symptoms, such as lightheadedness, nausea, excessive fatigue or shortness of breath. Research shows that patients without severe chest pain are more likely to wait to see if things improve, which can result in significant treatment delays. We encourage anyone experiencing any of these symptoms to call 911 and seek medical attention in an emergency department (ED) right away so we can make sure the symptoms aren’t due to a heart attack,” Dr. Herold said.

Although Mary hesitated, she reluctantly asked her husband to call 911. It was a difficult decision to make, but she knew she needed to err on the side of caution. What surprised Mary was the fact that she had recently completed blood work in preparation for the trip. Her cholesterol reading was where it needed to be, her blood pressure was controlled, and she was within a healthy weight. “I never considered genetic factors because I lead a healthy lifestyle,” Mary said. “I guess I thought I was exempt from heart disease because I eat well and stay active.”

First responders delivered immediate, lifesaving care

Mary and Tom were smart to call 911 right away and not risk driving to the hospital themselves. Mary’s lifesaving care began the moment first responders arrived at her home. A favorable outcome is not only dependent on how quickly you can get to the nearest ED, it’s also about the treatment and care received prior to arrival.

The Winsted Fire Department members were the first to arrive. “I was so impressed with how they communicated with the hospital and, when the ambulance arrived, they had me ready to be transported. It was seamless,” Mary said.

While en route to Ridgeview’s Waconia Campus — a 30-minute drive — the paramedics stabilized Mary’s condition and took measures to expedite her care once she arrived at the ED.

Diagnosis and treatment by an expert team of cardiac specialists

Upon her arrival at Ridgeview, a care team that included an emergency physician, cardiologist, internal medicine physician, nurses, lab personnel and more was ready to take over. For patients with a suspected heart attack or other cardiac event, Ridgeview uses a standardized management approach in partnership with the cardiology team from Minneapolis Heart Institute®. Numerous testing modalities are immediately available at Ridgeview facilities, and patients with cardiac emergencies that require transfer for services not available at Ridgeview experience a seamless transition to meet their needs 24 hours a day.

Mary’s blood work confirmed the presence of troponin — a protein enzyme that enters the bloodstream when the heart muscle has been damaged. It was one of several tests that confirmed Mary’s diagnosis of a heart attack.

Cardiac care beyond the ED

Following Mary’s diagnosis in the Emergency Department, she was moved to Ridgeview’s Cardiac/Intensive Care Unit and scheduled for a stent procedure the next morning in the onsite catheterization lab.

Mary is grateful that she was able to receive all of her care close to home. Ridgeview's partnership with the Minneapolis Heart Institute makes it possible for patients, like Mary, to receive life-saving procedures without having to leave their community.

Gratitude for the entire care team

When Mary reflects on her experience at Ridgeview she is filled with gratitude. “I think there is something special that happens at Ridgeview because of its size,” Mary said. “Thank you for the quality care I received, your attention to detail, and the skill of the nurses and all staff. I can't thank everyone enough for the sincere, compassionate care I received. Your confidence, calm demeanor and much needed smiles were appreciated during this stressful time."

“Thank you, Ridgeview, for saving my life!”