It takes a team to save a life. For the last three years, every person treated at Intermountain Medical Center for an emergency heart condition has received life-saving procedures within the national standard of 90 minutes. In fact, the average time at Intermountain is just under one hour.

Time is critical for a heart attack victim to get balloon therapy in order to clear blockages leading to the heart. As blood stops flowing, heart tissue begins to die, and the patient won’t have a chance at recovery. Patients who receive balloon therapy quickly have a much higher rate of survival.

On Jan. 29, hospital employees, along with emergency services personnel including the Murray City Fire Department, were honored for achieving and exceeding this national level of care.

“We’re part of the medical system in the county, and our EMS team is part of why they are such a success,” MCFD Battalion Chief/EMS Director Mike Dykman said. “We can identify if the patient needs cardiac care and get them quickly to the hospital.”

During a ceremony at the hospital, the Murray Fire Department was presented with a plaque acknowledging its efforts in maintaining a commitment to excellence by providing quick, responsive care.

Murray City has provided $250,000 in training and equipment to support this effort, and the Murray EMS team believes the investment is paying off.

“I believe the real positive here is the collaboration between all of the local jurisdictions, our communication center and the hospital,” Fire Chief Gil Rodriguez said. “This is a very big accomplishment for our community.”

Other fire departments honored at Intermountain Medical Center included Sandy, Park City, Salt Lake, Unified Fire Authority, Gold Cross Ambulance and South Salt Lake.

“I’m not aware of any other medical system that has met that standard for three years,” Dykman said. “The Murray Fire Department is proud to be part of a health-care system that makes a difference and saves lives.”