Patient reunites with care team from Orlando Health hospitals

Two Orlando Health facilities, including Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, were instrumental in saving a man's life after he came in with symptoms of a heart attack. 

César A. Díaz Lira first went to Orlando Health Emergency Room — Osceola with symptoms of chest pain and fatigue. The care team conducted an electrocardiogram immediately, and it showed a ST-elevated myocardial infarction, which is a complete blockage of a coronary artery.

Once the Osceola team stabilized Díaz Lira, Air Care prepared to transfer him 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 Healthy system,” said Dr. Brian Head, medical director of Orlando Health Emergency Room – Osceola, in a news release. “Within 30 minutes of Cesar arriving, the helicopter was on the way.”

Within 90 minutes of arriving at the emergency, he underwent an angioplasty that opened the blocked artery and restored blood flow. 

"Cesar’s happy ending is what we all hope for – you come in, it’s recognized early and we are able to intervene in the amount of time where no permanent damage or no life-changing damage is done to your heart,” said Jazmine Wisecup, director of cardiovascular services at Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, in the release.

Díaz Lira reunited with the care team to thank them.

"Orlando Health treated me like I was family," he said in the release.