Support Us Button Widget

New program launches in Forsyth County to improve outcomes for cardiac arrest patients

The innovative program is a collaboration between Forsyth County Emergency Services and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

Three people in the back of an ambulance treating a dummy with devices.

Forsyth County EMS paramedics have received special training to identify patients who might benefit from eCPR.

Photo courtesy of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Forsyth County is innovating work to improve survival rates for patients suffering cardiac arrest. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist + Forsyth County EMS have teamed up for a program known as eCPR.

Under the program, paramedics will continue to give patients traditional CPR and defibrillation in emergencies. They will also try to determine if damage from the irregular heart rhythm can be reversed. If that’s a possibility, the patient will be placed on an ECMO machine — a heart and lung bypass machine — when they arrive to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

“We want to focus on patient-centered outcomes where the person not only survives, but they are the same person they were before their cardiac arrest,” said Forsyth County Emergency Services Director Chief Joey Hundley.

The program is believed to the first of its kind in NC. If eCPR is a success, it could be expanded in the future.

More from WStoday
For the new year, we’re asking readers to submit their top questions about the Twin City for us to answer.
If you don’t have coffee already in hand, consider this your sign to grab some.
What are the highs and lows when it comes to snow storms in The Twin City, and can you expect a white Christmas this year?
It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out, and so is ours. Ready to see how our year stacked up?
The university’s foundation purchased the property to accommodate future growth.
Hit the road and head to the Port City. We’re sharing all the details about what to do and eat, plus where to stay.
Mayor Allen Joines calls plans for the major mixed-use development “a roadmap to a new era of vibrancy and opportunity” for Winston-Salem.
From historic charm to modern vibrancy, the Twin City offers a unique mix of tradition and innovation.
We asked an artificial intelligence site to come up with a movie plot fit for the Hallmark Channel. The result is a love story with the backdrop of some of Winston-Salem’s most iconic spots.
Dig into Winston-Salem’s must-try pizza shops, including some that have gotten national attention and are loved by locals.