Hospital seeking defibrillator upgrade

A heart attack strikes without warning. That is while health care professionals need to be equipped with the best technology possible.
The Community Advisory Council (CAC) from New York Hospital Queens (NYHQ) gathered for a special meeting to reach out for donations to upgrade ambulance defibrillators. One unit of this new technology, the LifePak 15, will cost $30,000.
“Electronics and technology in hospitals is never static, but constantly dynamic,” said Frank Macchio, chairman of the CAC, at the August 10 meeting. “We’re reaching out to the community to try to provide one of these units to one of our ambulances to save one of our family members or neighbors.”
George Benedetto, SIM Lab director, demonstrated the defibrillator and said that this new device offers so much more protection than previous models.
“This is much more than a defibrillator – in fact, it’s about $29,000 and change more,” he said. “Important information goes from your heart right to the most appropriate clinical place in the hospital.”
Diane Sixsmith, M.D., chairman of emergency medicine, said that time is of the essence in any situation dealing with the heart. Timeliness can save a life and that is why this updated unit is needed in ambulances.
“About 400,000 people a year die of sudden cardiac death. Half of those, were they to be defibrillated or shocked in a quick enough period of time, they would be brought back to life without permanent damage,” she said. “LifePak 15 is far more sophisticated than the machines normally carried in ambulances.”
At the meeting, which was attended by Assemblymember Grace Meng and State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, the Women’s Auxiliary handed out raffle tickets that can be purchased by those wanting to donate.
“If 30 individuals or groups could just send $1,000 then the $30,000 can be easily reached and many lives can be saved,” said Macchio.
To learn more about donating to NYHQ for this life saving equipment, go to www.nyhq.org or call 718-670-2000.