Sutter Roseville Medical Center cardiologist Dr. George Fehrenbacher knows firsthand the crucial difference a few minutes can make when it comes to diagnosing a heart attack.

Throughout his 30-plus-year medical career, he has strived to make response times faster and get patients the critical care they need in minimal time. Yet, that isn’t always the problem. “In the hospital, we work very hard to shave off two or three minutes here or there, but some people are waiting at home for hours while experiencing symptoms of a heart attack,” he explains.

As a result, Fehrenbacher helped found the Placer County 9-1-1 Initiative, along with the American Heart Association and Placer County Health, Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Their mission is to educate people about the symptoms of a heart attack – chest pains, jaw pain, shortness of breath, pains down the arms, and breaking out in a cold sweat – in order to get people to dial 9-1-1 sooner, rather than later. As Dr. Fehrenbacher attests, calling 9-1-1 at the first sign of a heart attack can make the difference between life and death. “I’m very proud of the whole program,” he says. “I’ve seen a lot of people’s lives saved because they got to the hospital quickly.” For more information, visit sutterroseville.org/services/cardiac-911.cfm.

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