Margaret Mary Health & The Christ Hospital Health Network are creating better outcomes for heart attack patients in SE Indiana.

Heart Attack Patients Have Better Outcomes with The Christ Hospital Health Network and Margaret Mary Health

Both Systems Recently Expanded Collaboration Treating Cardiovascular Patients

CINCINNATI (June 8, 2023) – Heart attack patients transferred from Margaret Mary Health in Batesville, Ind., to The Christ Hospital Health Network, in Cincinnati, see better outcomes with faster intervention times than 75% of other hospitals nationally.

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients suffer from a type of heart attack that mainly affects the heart’s lower chambers. Patients experiencing this type of heart attack need immediate intervention to restore blood flow through coronary vessels in order to prevent permanent irreversible cardiac damage.

In 2022, the average time from stabilization at Margaret Mary Health in Batesville, Ind. to transport to The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, was under 26 minutes. Once a STEMI patient arrives at The Christ Hospital, our cardiovascular team is faster than 90% of hospitals nationwide in restoring blood flow through the coronary arteries. The American Heart Association recommends that blood flow be restored within 90 minutes of first medical contact.

“Improving patient outcomes for patients across the region and in rural communities is exactly why we expanded our collaboration with Margaret Mary Health, the leading healthcare organization in Southeast Indiana,” said Debbie Hayes, President and CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network. “Timing is critical when it comes to taking care of heart attack patients. By providing exceptional care and working with Margaret Mary Health, both systems are proving we have everything it takes to return these patients back to health as quickly as possible.”

Heart attack victim, Albert Steiner, and his wife, Melissa, are grateful for the strong partnership between The Christ Hospital Health Network and Margaret Mary Health. Residents of Cedar Grove, Indiana, the couple credits both hospitals with saving Albert’s life.

“When we arrived at Margaret Mary, the staff didn’t waste any time,” said Melissa. “They confirmed Albert was having a heart attack and a helicopter was sent right away. When he landed at The Christ Hospital Health Network, their cardiac team was ready and waiting to rush him in for treatment. We can’t thank the staff enough for the care they provided that day.”

Earlier this year, The Christ Hospital Health Network announced the expansion of services offered at Margaret Mary Health’s main campus in Batesville, Indiana including access cardiovascular specialists five days a week so that patients did not have to travel to have access to that expertise.

“As a partner of The Christ Hospital Health Network, Margaret Mary Health is proud to bring cutting-edge cardiovascular care from Greater Cincinnati’s Heart Hospital to our community,” said Liz Leising, MMH President and CEO. “For years, we’ve had a strong relationship with the cardiologists from the system’s Heart and Vascular Institute. The collaboration and processes that we have put into place have saved countless lives in our community.”

About The Christ Hospital Health Network

The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For more than 130 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up for more than 1,300 physicians and more than 6,500 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region, named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2023. It is also a Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award recipient, which recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations that achieve the 95th percentile or above of performance in patient experience.

About Margaret Mary Health

Located in Batesville, Indiana, Margaret Mary Health is a not-for-profit, critical-access hospital providing both inpatient and outpatient services. Employing nearly 800 team members, the hospital has grown to include oncology, orthopedic, rehab services, and primary and minor care services in nearby communities. MMH serves a population of more than 65,000 residents in Ripley, Franklin and surrounding counties. To learn more about our services, visit mmhealth.org.