Your Hospital. WELCOME.

This year, about 1.2 million Americans will have a first or recurrent heart attack, according to the American Heart Association. About 452,000 of these people will die. Coronary heart disease is the nation’s single-leading cause of death.

The stories in this issue of the Messenger show that the warning signs are not necessarily the stereotypical clutching pain that most people equate with a heart attack. The actual signs may make you think something else is going on, leading you to a false sense of security.

Don’t become a statistic. Know the warning signs of a heart attack, and take action if you even remotely think you may be experiencing those symptoms.

Learn about the risk factors for heart disease and if any of them apply to you, do something about it. And if you smoke, quitting is the most important step you can take.

At our hospitals, we continue to identify where we can streamline our work, to help you get the lifesaving care that you need, when you need it.

Norm Gruber, President/CEO