DeTar Healthcare System and Memorial Medical Center Collaborate on STEMI Drill to Strengthen Emergency Cardiac Response in the Crossroads

6/5/2025

DeTar Healthcare System, in collaboration with Memorial Medical Center and Calhoun County EMS in Port Lavaca, conducted a STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) drill on June 4 to enhance emergency response readiness for patients experiencing severe heart attacks. The simulation provided a valuable opportunity to evaluate the coordination between hospital emergency departments, EMS teams, and DeTar’s cardiovascular team—ensuring that patients across the region receive rapid, life-saving care when it matters most.

Simulating a Life-Saving Response Across Counties

The drill began at Memorial Medical Center’s emergency room, where a “patient,” portrayed by Memorial Medical Center staff member Victoria Barber, arrived with symptoms of a severe heart attack. The ER team quickly assessed the situation, activated a STEMI alert within minutes, and prepared the patient for urgent transport.

Calhoun County EMS transported the patient from Memorial Medical Center in Port Lavaca to DeTar Hospital Navarro’s emergency department, where the DeTar team seamlessly took over. The scenario concluded in the DeTar cath lab, where interventional cardiologist Dr. Harish Chandna was prepared to perform the life-saving procedure to restore blood flow to the heart.

According to the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, the goal for door-to-reperfusion time is under 120 minutes. In this drill, the benchmark was surpassed with a time of 77 minutes, showcasing the effectiveness of the coordinated regional response.

Improving Cardiac Care Across the Crossroads

“This STEMI drill demonstrated how vital teamwork and communication are between regional hospitals and EMS providers,” said Jolene Balboa, R.N., director of cardiovascular services at DeTar. “Every second counts during a heart attack, and these types of drills are crucial for refining our response times and procedures.

“We are incredibly proud of the collaboration between our emergency department and DeTar’s cardiac team,” said Erin Clevenger, CEO of Memorial Medical Center. “The safest thing for people to do when having chest pain is to go to the nearest emergency department. By practicing these scenarios, we’re better prepared to provide the fastest and highest quality care to our patients in Calhoun County and beyond.”

Regional Collaboration in Action

“We thank Memorial Medical Center’s ER and Calhoun County EMS teams for their professionalism and dedication during this training,” said Bernard Leger, CEO of DeTar Healthcare System. “These types of partnerships allow us to deliver advanced cardiac care to more communities in the Crossroads region. Special thanks also to our own emergency department and cath lab team for their continued excellence and preparedness.”

“DeTar Healthcare System remains committed to supporting the development of healthcare professionals and partnering with hospitals throughout the region to strengthen emergency response networks,” said Leger. “Through drills like these, we are building a stronger safety net for patients across the Crossroads.”

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