Forsyth Medical Center 
RACE Project
| Nearly 80 million men and women suffer from some for of cardiovascular disease (CVD) The RACE program is helping to reduce the time it takes for a heart attack victim to get seen in the Emergency Department. |
What is the RACE program?
Forsyth Medical Center has adopted a statewide initiative called the RACE (Reperfusion of Acute MI in Carolina Emergency Departments) Program to reduce the time it takes for a heart attack patient to recieve treatment once they enter the hospital.
How does the RACE Program work?
According to the American Heart Association, a person having a heart attack needs to have blocked arteries reopened within 90 minutes to have the best chance of perserving the heart muscle and ensuring a full recovery. At Forsyth Medical Center our median time was 68 minutes, which is unheard of nationally. The program works with the cooperation of emergency responders, emergency department staff, and the cardiac catherization team to work in sync to ensure a patient's well-being from the time a patient enters the emergency room door until they are treated.
