Cardiac Intensive Care

At ECMC, our cardiac intensive care unit is staffed by registered nurses, all of whom are trained for advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and certified for cardiac balloon pumps. That means your nurse doesn’t have to wait for a specialist or technician to arrive if there’s a problem. He or she can start treatment immediately.

Why else should you choose ECMC? As the region’s adult trauma center, we have a cardiac team on site and ready for action 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We treat some of the most seriously ill patients and handle complex cases, giving our doctors and nurses more experience and knowledge. And, with a 2-to-1 nurse-to-patient ratio, ECMC’s 12-bed unit is staffed so you get the care you need to recover. We also pride ourselves on the fact that our nurses are true partners with our physicians, sharing information and working together as a team to make sure you get the best care. ECMC even offers a dedicated teaching service for cardiology—unique within Western New York. So if you or someone you know needs cardiac care, choose the hospital with leading outcomes—ECMC.

When you’re having a heart attack, every minute counts. ECMC’s average door-to-balloon time—from a patient’s arrival to when a “balloon” helps open the blood vessel—is nearly 20 minutes below the national guidelines. And faster times mean better survival rates, shorter lengths of stay, a better chance of limiting damage to the heart and a better quality of life.

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