DeTar Healthcare System and Yoakum Community Hospital Collaborate on STEMI Drill to Strengthen Emergency Cardiac Response in the Crossroads
9/17/2025
DeTar Healthcare System, in collaboration with Yoakum Community Hospital and Yoakum EMS in Yoakum, conducted a STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) drill on Wednesday, September 17, 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 Yoakum Community Hospital’s emergency room, where a “patient,” portrayed by Yoakum Community Hospital staff member Elizabeth Jendrzey, 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.
Yoakum EMS transported the patient from Yoakum Community Hospital in Yoakum 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-door reperfusion time is under 120 minutes. In this drill, the benchmark was surpassed with a time of 95 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 Tiffany Hintze, DBA, MHA, CEO of Yoakum Community Hospital. “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 DeWitt, Fayette, Lavaca County and beyond.”
Regional Collaboration in Action
“We thank Yoakum Community Hospital’s ER and Yoakum EMS teams for their professionalism and dedication during this training,” said Heidi Wolf, CNO and interim CEO for 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 Balboa. “Through drills like these, we are building a stronger safety net for patients across the Crossroads.”
To learn more about Yoakum Community Hospital, visit www.yoakumhospital.org/.
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