In a heart attack, minutes matter.
43 Minutes Can Save Your Life
Door-to-Balloon Time
Door-to-balloon time is not a term most people ever learn. In a hospital, though, it is a critical measure that can mean the difference between life and death during a heart attack. Door-to-balloon time refers to the number of minutes from when a patient arrives at the hospital to when a balloon is used to open a blocked artery and restore blood flow to the heart.
National guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association aim for treatment within 90 minutes. At Baton Rouge General, our goal is less than 60 minutes, with our average door-to-balloon time currently at 43 minutes, more than twice as fast as the national benchmark. That speed can save your life. While you may never plan for a heart attack, you can plan where to go.
BRG Is More Than Twice as Fast as the National Standard
Why Every Minute Matters
During a heart attack, a blocked artery prevents blood from reaching the heart muscle. The longer that blockage lasts, the more damage occurs. Faster treatment means less heart muscle damage, fewer complications, and better recovery. Our speed is not accidental. It is the result of coordinated teams, clear protocols, and systems designed to move quickly when seconds count. That focus is why Baton Rouge General consistently outperforms the national standard for heart attack care.
In a Heart Attack, Minutes Matter
The Right Care, Right Away
Speed matters, but so does getting the right care at the right time. When it comes to a heart attack, care does not start at the hospital. It starts the moment you call 911.
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Care begins before you arrive
When you come by ambulance, paramedics can perform an EKG in the field, often identifying a heart attack before you reach the hospital. That information is sent to our team right away, so we’re ready the moment you arrive, saving valuable time when every minute counts.
Survive. Don’t drive. Call 911. -
Direct access to our 24/7 cardiac catheterization lab
If a heart attack is identified, you may be taken straight to our cardiac catheterization lab without waiting in the emergency room. That direct path helps reduce delays and gets treatment started faster. Our specialized heart lab, and the expert team who runs it, is available any time, day or night.
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Aspirin as early as possible
Most patients who arrive by ambulance receive aspirin before they reach the hospital, helping start treatment right away. If aspirin hasn’t already been given, our team will provide it as soon as you arrive to help prevent blood clots from getting worse and support blood flow to the heart.
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Protection for your heart after discharge
Medications like beta blockers and statins are given to help your heart heal, reduce strain, lower cholesterol, and decrease the risk of future heart problems once you leave the hospital.
Certified Chest Pain Center
Baton Rouge General is a Certified Chest Pain Center, a designation that recognizes hospitals with the right people, processes, and technology in place to quickly evaluate and treat patients with chest pain.
What that means for you:
Rapid evaluation the moment you arrive
Advanced testing to rule in or rule out a heart attack faster
Proven, evidence-based protocols that reduce delays
Seamless coordination between emergency, cardiology, and cath lab teams
Have Questions?
Get quick answers to common questions about life-saving heart attack care at BRG.
Learn MoreKnow Where to Go
In an emergency, you won’t have time to think. Knowing where to go ahead of time can save your life.
If you or someone with you experiences chest pain, shortness of breath, pain in the arm, jaw, neck, or back, or sudden nausea or dizziness, call 911 immediately.
And know Baton Rouge General is ready when you arrive.
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Baton Rouge General - Ascension
14105 Highway 73 - Prairieville, LA 70769
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Baton Rouge General - Bluebonnet
8585 Picardy Avenue - Baton Rouge, LA 70809
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Baton Rouge General - Mid City
3600 Florida Boulevard - Baton Rouge, LA 70806
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