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Thanks to quick work by the response care team at Orlando Health Emergency Room – Osceola, a local patient was able to later reunite with that team that saved his life when he experienced a severe heart attack.

César Díaz Lira, 58, went to the standalone ER location on Osceola Parkway with symptoms of chest pain and fatigue. An electrocardiogram was immediately performed and showed a ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) – a complete blockage of a coronary artery. The Emergency Room team stabilized Díaz Lira as he was prepared for transfer by Air Care to Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital.

“We have all the tools that any ER would have. We coordinate with our transfer center for transport to get to other sites within the Orlando Health system,” said Brian Head, MD, medical director of Orlando Health Emergency Room – Osceola. “Within 30 minutes of Cesar arriving, the helicopter was on the way.”

Facility officials said the quick response and collaboration in this case enabled Díaz Lira to eventually undergo an angioplasty that opened the blocked artery and restored blood flow in less than the industry standard of 90 minutes – the industry standard – from when he arrived at the emergency room.

“Orlando Health treated me like I was family,” Díaz Lira said during his return earlier this month to Orlando Health Emergency Room – Osceola, where he hugged team members and offered prayers of gratitude.