Most people are familiar with the term “Intensive Care Unit,” which refers to a special area of the hospital for patients recovering from more severe injuries or intensive surgeries. But most people don’t know that there is specialized intensive care for patients who have cardiovascular conditions. The cardiovascular intensive care unit, or CVICU, is dedicated to caring for patients who are recovering from cardiovascular surgery.

Who Goes to the CVICU

Virtually any patient who undergoes heart surgery benefits from a stay in the CVICU. Patients usually stay there for one to three days after the following procedures:

· Open heart surgery, such as coronary artery bypass (CABG) or valve repair

· Repair of an aneurysm, blocked artery, or dysfunctional valve

· Thoracic surgery, where there’s an incision in the lung or chest wall

· Angioplasty or stent placement following a heart attack

· Placement of an Intra Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP), a catheter-inserted balloon placed near the heart that inflates with each beat, allowing the heart to rest

Patients who are on medication to control their blood pressure, suffer an arrhythmia, or have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) may also be admitted to the CVICU for recovery after surgeries.

What to Expect in the CVICU

Every patient is different, and it’s important to speak to your doctor about what to expect before any cardiovascular procedure. Share your concerns so that the cardiac surgeon can make you—and your family—feel more confident about your care and recovery.

• While most heart surgery takes about 2-4 hours, the entire process (from admitting to post-op) can take more like 4-6 hours. Let family members know what to expect, and find out where they can get information about how your procedure is progressing.
• The cardiac surgeon will generally come out to talk to family members or loved ones once the procedure is complete. After that, it may take a little while for visitors to be allowed to visit the patient.
• Patients are brought straight from surgery to the CVICU. They usually stay no more than three days, although this can vary based on the patient’s overall physical condition and other factors.
• There is usually quite a bit of equipment in the CVICU. Each may have its own beeps or flashes. The nurse can explain the purpose of each. A nurse will also stay with the patient for the first 24 hours after surgery, monitoring vital signs and ensuring that the patient is as comfortable as possible.
• Some patients may need a respirator (also called a ventilator or breathing machine) after a cardiac surgery or thoracic surgery. The respirator is placed in the patient’s throat, past the vocal cords. It does impede talking, but generally can be removed within 4 to 8 hours of the procedure.
• Patient comfort is always a priority. Nurses will monitor patients’ pain levels and work hard to keep them comfortable. Patients will also remain sedated until their vital signs are stable.

If you have questions about cardiovascular care or heart surgery, please contact us at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute. Visit us online or call Consult-a-Nurse® at -800-382-3522 for answers to your questions and free physician referrals.

You’re on your way to work one early morning when you see a huge traffic backup. Then you see the cause. Glass litters the highway and smoke is still in the air. There are several cars off the road, along with a fire truck and police cars. People on stretchers are being loaded into an ambulance—no doubt on their way to a trauma center.

You may think that a trauma center is just like an emergency room, but it actually has to meet certain criteria and is more specifically equipped. It is designed to offer immediate treatment for traumatic injuries, which are defined as a blunt force or penetrating physical injuries. These are usually severe and life-threatening conditions that result from car accidents, falls, burns, and gunshots.

Every year, injuries, motor vehicle crashes, falls, knife or gunshot wounds or sport and recreational accidents bring patients to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center for treatment. Each patient with severe, potentially life-threatening or disabling injuries receives immediate attention. Trauma is leading cause of death in people aged 1-44

As a Level II trauma hospital, Lawnwood Regional Medical Center is a leader in providing the highest level of care for injured patients. The comprehensive services of the Treasure Coast Trauma Program range from prevention through rehabilitation.

Every hour of the day, the Trauma Program provides specially trained trauma surgeons, surgical and non surgical sub specialists, Board Certified emergency medicine physicians, nurses and many other healthcare professionals to give immediate care to trauma patients. 

The Trauma Service is supported by other specialists such as neurosurgeons and trauma orthopaedic surgeons who are new specialists to our area. Crucial support services such as a blood bank, laboratory services and diagnostic radiology are part of the trauma care team. The Medical Center provides state-of-the-art equipment to resuscitate, stabilize and support the most critically injured patient.

Under the auspices of Danny Jazarevic MD and Thomas Ellison RN, the Trauma Program provides leadership in injury-prevention programs, research, education, community outreach and trauma system planning.

From the emergency medical personnel at the site of an accident or injury to emergency care through intensive care, rehabilitation and eventually a return to home, the Treasure Coast Trauma Program plays a vital role in the survival and healing of severely injured people throughout St Lucie County and beyond.

If you want to know more about how trauma centers operate, contact Lawnwood Regional Medical Center. Visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-800-382-3522. Who knows—the people at a trauma center could one day save your life.

SOURCES
http://www.traumafoundation.org/index.php
http://nsucomems.tripod.com/what_is_a_trauma_center.htm

By Sharon Wernlund

PORT ST. LUCIE—In her 23 years at the St. Lucie Medical Center, Sonya Schlesselman has performed over 70,000 mammograms on women and men in hopes of saving lives through the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

The Supervisor of Mammography at the St. Lucie Medical Center always believed she was safe. Breast self-exams and annual mammograms were an important regimen in her life. There was no family history of breast cancer.

Still, the odds were against her. In 1990, the killer disease set its sights on her. Odder still was her reaction.

“I know it sounds silly but it’s been one of the best things that has ever happened in my life,” says Sonya, 63 of Port St. Lucie.

“I counsel so many women about breast cancer. They have questions, fears and concerns. When they realize I’ve been through it, they know I understand. It’s made me better at what I do.”

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death – after lung cancer – in American women. In 2009, there were 192,370 new cases in the U.S. and 40,170 deaths.

In June, South Florida mourned the loss of Kristin Hoke, WPBF-Channel 25 news anchor, who succumbed to breast cancer at 42 after a courageous and public 5 ½ year battle. Ms. Hoke shared her personal struggle to survive in Emmy-winning video diaries that inspired viewers, family, friends and fellow cancer patients.

Breast cancer was not as cruel to Sonya. The disease announced itself with sharp pains in her left breast. That prompted an impromptu mammogram screening. The tiny tumor on the X-Ray confirmed her biggest fear.

“Mine was small—only six millimeters,” says the bespectacled grandmother of three. “The mammography saved my life. I didn’t feel a lump at all. I didn’t know I had it. The doctors gave me a 95 percent survival rate.”

Sonya underwent a lumpectomy where surgeons remove only the malignant tumor and surrounding tissue. Six weeks of radiation followed at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce. Though exhausted and weak, she dutifully reported to work every day.

Initially, the diagnosis was devastating and plunged her into a “pity party” with plenty of tears and pleas of why me? But while the radiation was healing her body, a sense of empowerment was curing her troubled mind.

“I decided I wasn’t going to live my life this way,” says Sonya. “I believe that God uses us to help others through our experiences. I made up my mind to make this into a blessing rather than a curse.”

Not everybody knows about her bout with breast cancer. Sonya shares her story when she can personally attest to the importance of a mammogram, dispel a myth or help someone overcome the fear of their first exam.

“I had a lady who died because she was terrified of having a mammogram,” Sonya said. “Finally, she had a lump and it was a big lump. So she came in and I did the exam and she said, ‘that’s it? I put this off all this time and it didn’t even hurt?’ But it was stage 4 and too late. She died.”

Fortunately, the rewards of her job outweigh the bad.

“I’ll hear somebody say I can’t believe you do what you do all day long,” Sonya says. “That always bothers me. Not everybody can say they come to work every day and save lives.”

Sonya speaks before women’s groups to advocate mammograms as the best tool for breast cancer detection. The American Cancer Society recommends women 40 years and older to have an annual mammogram and clinical breast exam. Senior citizens are no exception.

She is an instructor for breast self-exams.

She’s been a volunteer for the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery that helps newly diagnosed breast cancer patients cope with education and peer group support.

Six months ago, Sonya led her hospital’s renovation of the waiting room for mammogram patients from choosing paint colors to artwork, silk plants and the waterfall fountain. Aesthetics wasn’t her main goal.

“I wanted the atmosphere to be relaxing like a spa –not a hospital.”

Her sense of humor is also represented by her own hand. On one of the walls is the framed caricature of a cow with a puzzled look that asks, “What is a Mamm-Moo-Gram?”

Recently, she joined Pink Tie Friends, a non-profit charity of cancer patients, survivors and supporters. Since 2005, the organization has raised awareness as well as financial assistance for breast cancer treatment for women and men in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

Cancer free for 19 years, Sonya is busy living life and realizing her dreams now instead of waiting for retirement. Travel abroad is just one example. So far, she’s made a dozen trips to Europe, including London, Paris, Scotland and Amsterdam.

She’s 50 pounds lighter, eats healthy and regularly exercises. Sewing, stained glass and arts and crafts are favorite past-times. Time spent with family is especially precious. The mother of two has been married 45 years to Henry Schlesselman, a retired Port St. Lucie police chief.

“I had my last radiation treatment in January, 1991 at Lawnwood,” says Sonya. “My grand-daughter, Taylor, was born the same day in the same hospital. It marked the end of something and the beginning of something else. That was special to me.”

For more information about breast cancer, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit the website at www.cancer.org.

–30—

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sharon Wernlund is a former staff writer for The Palm Beach Post and is now a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Stuart, FL (wernlunds@aol.com. Her younger sister, Shari, is a breast cancer survivor.

4^th ANNUAL PINK TIE FRIENDS LUNCHEON

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, August 21^st

WHERE: Port St. Lucie Civic Center, 9221 SE Civic Center, Port St. Lucie, FL

TICKETS: $35 each or $350 for a reserved table of 10.

HIGHLIGHTS: Elvis impersonator, buffet, silent auction, raffle & door prizes.

CHARITY: Provides financial help to uninsured & underinsured individuals diagnosed with breast cancer

For tickets and information, contact Vivien Coniglio at (772) 344-1365

When it comes to medical care, the patient always comes first. During an emergency like a heart attack, both compassion and expertise play central roles in the patient’s survival and recovery. Dr. Babar Shareef, a member of Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute’s award-winning cardiac care team, discusses his approach to cardiac care and treating heart attacks.

Q: What’s your philosophy on medicine? How important is the individual patient?

A: I think it’s easy to practice medicine if you always put the patient first. I just imagine what I would do for my father, mother, brother, sister, or friend, and that makes my decision making easy. I can sleep well at night, knowing that I’ve done the best I could for the patient.

Q: The most widely practiced treatment for heart attack is a cardiac angioplasty. How does that procedure work?

A: We go into the narrowed artery with the balloon, pushing all of the plaque to the artery wall, deploy the stent, which acts as a scaffolding for the artery so it doesn’t collapse, and then bring the balloon out.

Q: Does the procedure hurt at all?

A: This is a procedure that should not be painful. We numb the groin or the arm, depending on which way we are going in, and we give patients mild sedation as well. Once we are done with the procedure, patients are sent to a recovery area and monitored there overnight. The next morning, they are usually discharged.

Q: Can any patient with heart blockage have this procedure, even if a heart attack hasn’t occurred?

A: There are definitely selection criteria. Patients may not be candidates for this procedure if they are morbidly sick, if they have significant blockages in the legs and arms, or if their anatomy precludes them from having angioplasty. Those patients are referred for bypass surgery. In this day and age, however, most patients can undergo this procedure.

Q: It sounds like angioplasty has become relatively common. Is it?

A: Millions and millions of these procedures are done all over the world. In the last ten or twelve years, I’ve done thousands of them myself.

Q: So are patients completely healthy after an angioplasty? What kind of follow-up care is required?

A: Patients have to be on certain medications after the procedure, especially aspirin and a blood thinner called Plavix®,”“and risk factor modification as well. You need to exercise. You need to keep your weight in check. That goes for any patient with heart disease.

If you have questions about heart attack, angioplasty, or other cardiac care issues, please contact us at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute. Visit is online or call Consult-a-Nurse® at 1-800-382-3522.

One of the most common—and least detected—heart conditions is called atrial fibrillation. About 2.2 million people have this arrhythmia, but it often goes undiagnosed until another medical condition prompts an ECG or other cardiovascular electronic monitoring. It’s important to catch the condition, because it can increase a patient’s risk for heart attack and stroke.

What’s the Risk?

Although not all arrhythmia patients need treatment, most atrial fibrillation patients require medical attention. That’s because atrial fibrillation raises a patient’s risk for other health complications to a greater extent than other arrhythmias do.

Atrial fibrillation occurs when the atria (upper chambers) of the heart simply quiver, rather than beat. The result: the heart’s valves don’t completely seal, and blood isn’t pumped efficiently. As the arrhythmia worsens, blood begins to pool in the heart’s chambers, increasing the risk for clots. Once clots form, they can cause a heart attack–or travel to the brain and cause a stroke.

Atrial Fibrillation Treatments

Patients who are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation often suffer from other heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease. These conditions can diminish the heart’s ability to beat properly, contributing to the development of atrial fibrillation. Doctors will work not only to reverse the arrhythmia, but also to treat any other cardiovascular conditions.

· Prescription medication is usually the first recourse for treating atrial fibrillation. The cardiologist will choose a medication that works best for the patient, based on any other health concerns or medical conditions.

· If medication doesn’t work, the next step is often electrical cardioversion. During this procedure, carefully controlled electric shocks are delivered to the muscles in the heart. These override the electrical pulses that come from the brain, “reprogramming” the heartbeat.

· The doctor may choose to follow up electrical cardioversion with drugs that are delivered intravenously (through an IV). This is done only in a medically supervised situation, and is a short-term treatment option.

· Another treatment option, radiofrequency ablation works by killing the tissue that sends the signal for the irregular beat. The cardiologist inserts a catheter into the patient’s artery and delivers a burst of radioelectricity to the tissue.

· Some patients whose atrial fibrillation recurs after other treatments may be candidates for surgery or the placement of a pacemaker.

Meanwhile, the doctor works with each patient to create a treatment program that addresses other medical concerns. The program may include cardiac rehabilitation, to strengthen and protect the muscles of the heart; regular monitoring via EKG; counseling on exercise and nutrition; or prescription medications.

If you have questions about atrial fibrillation or cardiovascular health, please contact us at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute. Visit us online or call Consult-a-Nurse® at 1-800-382-3522.

For patients with coronary artery disease and other heart conditions, open heart surgery may be necessary. One procedure is the coronary artery graft. During this procedure, the cardiologist creates a sort of “detour” around a blocked or damaged artery, so that blood can still flow to the muscles of the heart.

To create that alternate path, the doctor uses another vein from the body. Although sometimes the internal mammary artery from the chest is used, it is more common to use the saphenous vein in the leg. A new technique, called endoscopic vein harvesting, gives doctors a minimally invasive option for performing the first step in a coronary artery graft.

How Endoscopic Vein Harvesting Works

Before the cardiologist can perform the coronary artery graft, it’s necessary to get the “material” to graft on. In this case, the doctor needs a vein. To begin the procedure, the cardiologist makes one to three short incisions in the patient’s leg. This is different than traditional vein harvesting, which requires a much lengthier incision in the patient’s leg.

Next, the doctor inserts a camera, called an endoscope, into each incision. That endoscope gives a clear view of the vein and the surrounding tissue. Using the images from the endoscope, the doctor carefully removes the section of vein necessary for the graft. The saphenous vein runs from the groin to the ankle, offering plenty of material to work with.

Once the doctor has removed the necessary section of vein, the incisions are closed, and the graft can begin. Over time the body will compensate for the missing vein, so that the leg maintains proper circulation.

Advantages of Endoscopic Vein Harvesting

Unlike traditional vein harvesting, endoscopic vein harvesting is minimally invasive. It requires much smaller incisions. Although some patients’ medical history will make the traditional method necessary, most patients are candidates for the endoscopic approach. Especially for patients who have health conditions that impede healing, like peripheral artery disease (PAD) or diabetes, endoscopic vein harvesting is particularly appealing.

• Patients generally experience less pain at the incision site, since the incisions are smaller.
• There tend to be fewer complications and infections, resulting in lower incidence of hospital re-admission.
• Scarring is dramatically reduced. Patients often find that the scars are hardly noticeable after healing.
• Patients enjoy a shorter recovery time, and are often discharged from the hospital sooner.

If you have questions about endoscopic vein harvesting, coronary artery grafts, or other cardiovascular procedures, please contact us at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute. Visit us online, or call Consult-a-Nurse® at 1-800-382-3522 for answers to your questions and free physician referrals.

Summer brings newfound freedom for children and adults alike. During these vacation months, everyone is more likely to participate in sports at the amateur level. Without the supervision of trained coaches and other staff, people of all ages are more likely to suffer sports injuries. Indeed, sports injuries are one of the leading causes of emergency room visits in the summertime. Since these injuries generally affect muscles, bones, and joints, it’s important to heal properly after a sports injury. For many patients, rehabilitation is a critical step in the healing process.

Purposes of Physical Rehabilitation

Healing most sports injuries requires some level of immobilization. As the injury heals, the surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments grow weaker and less flexible due to disuse. Injuries that require a longer healing time can actually cause atrophy to set in, where the muscle begins to waste away. Meanwhile injured joints may stiffen.

Rehabilitation can reverse these processes, rebuilding strength, increasing flexibility, and restoring range of motion. By nursing the injured area back to health in the supervised setting of clinical rehabilitation, the patient improves physical condition—and avoids re-injury due to over-exertion. The physical therapist works closely with each patient to ensure that the rehabilitation process occurs gradually and aligns with the body’s capabilities.

Who Benefits from Physical Rehabilitation

Just as not every cut necessitates a trip the emergency room, not every sports injury requires formalized rehabilitation. The type and duration of the rehabilitation program depends on multiple factors, including the type and severity of injury; the patient’s overall physical condition; and other health considerations.

• Even amateur athletes can treat minor injuries (like strained or “pulled” muscles) at home. Resting the muscle, taking doctor-approved anti-inflammatory medications, and applying heat to the muscle are all appropriate home remedies.
• Muscle sprains, where the ligaments that connect the bones are damaged, may require medical attention, especially if they are severe. However, mild sprains can be treated by resting the joint until the bruising and swelling begin to subside. Patients who sprain a joint will want to ease back into any physical exertion using the injured joint.
• Any dislocation or suspected broken bone requires immediate medical attention. These injuries can take months to heal. As the injury heals, a physical therapist will work with the patient to restore muscle tone, as atrophy may occur while the joint is immobilized. Usually this rehabilitation is completed in the outpatient setting.
• Conditions that require orthopedic surgery, from ACL repair to hip or knee replacement, will also require extensive physical rehabilitation. Patients who undergo these procedures may meet with both a physical and occupational therapist after the procedure. Usually rehabilitation begins with an inpatient program, before the patient has even been discharged from the hospital. After discharge, it will continue until the patient has regained independent function and improved physical condition.

If you have questions about sports injuries or rehabilitation, please contact us at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute. Visit us online or call Consult-a-Nurse® at 1-800-382-3522 for health information and free physician referrals.

Medical technology is constantly evolving, particularly in terms of diagnosis and treatment for heart disease and heart attack. The latest available options for these heart conditions are called cardiac interventions. Performed in a specialized cardiac catheterization lab, cardiac interventions offer timely, minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment options.

Types of Cardiac Interventions

During a cardiac catheterization, the doctor inserts a long, thin tube (the catheter) into an artery, usually the one in the patient’s groin. The catheter is threaded up to the heart. Depending on the patient’s condition, the cardiologist may then perform several different procedures:

• Coronary Angiogram: The catheter inserted during a coronary angiogram allows the cardiologist to get a more complete picture of the heart. Special dye is inserted into the catheter and travels to the muscles of the heart. The dye makes any blockages or narrow places much more visible, so that the doctor can determine the most appropriate treatment.
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Used to unblock the arteries of the heart, PCI uses a balloon at the end of the catheter to loosen and remove plaque that blocks the artery. Once the catheter is in place, the doctor inflates the balloon, breaking up the plaque. This procedure may also be called a balloon angioplasty. Doctors often place a stent in the artery afterward, to hold it open as it heals.
• Rotational Atherectomy: If calcium has built up in the artery, a balloon angioplasty may not be sufficient to remove it. In that case, the cardiologist uses a highly specialized tool to chip away at the calcium deposits and open up the artery. This procedure is also generally considered a type of PCI.

Who Needs Cardiac Intervention

Doctors can use cardiac intervention to both diagnose and to treat specific heart conditions. If your doctor believes that you may have dangerous blockages in your arteries, he or she may recommend a coronary angiogram. The minimally invasive procedure can help determine the extent of blockage and whether further intervention is needed.

Most patients who receive cardiac interventions are those who have heart attacks. For the most deadly kind of heart attack, called STEMI, emergency PCI is the most effective treatment option. The American Heart Association and other professional medical organizations note that STEMI time, or the time it takes for a patient to receive cardiac intervention after setting foot in the hospital, must be under 90 minutes to guarantee the best patient outcomes. At Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute, our STEMI times consistently beat the national standard.

It’s important for patients to know that not every hospital has a cardiac catheterization lab. On the contrary, only a small percentage of hospitals have these highly specialized facilities and the medical experts on staff to perform the procedure.

If you have questions about cardiac interventions or heart health, please contact us at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute. Visit us online or call Consult-a-Nurse® at 1-800-382-3522.

When faced with a medical emergency, most people want to do their best to lend a helping hand. But an incorrect response could do more harm than good, especially if the patient has suffered serious trauma. Knowing the truth about first aid and emergency care could help you save someone’s life.

Myth #1: Unconscious people all need CPR.

Truth: CPR should only be used on people who are not breathing, and only those who are trained and feel comfortable should perform CPR. Performing CPR may cause broken ribs, so it’s important only to do it if absolutely necessary. Note that CPR techniques differ for infants, children, and adults. Contact your local American Red Cross chapter or hospital for information about CPR certification.

Myth #2: The best way to stop heavy bleeding is with a tourniquet.

Truth: A tourniquet cuts of all blood flow to the area, including flow to healthy tissue. Without a steady supply of oxygen from the blood, healthy tissue begins to die. Instead of using a tourniquet, apply steady pressure to the wound. Use a clean cloth. If the wound is on an arm or leg, elevate it to slow blood flow.

Myth #3: If a child swallows poison, induce vomiting right away.

Truth: The first step is to read the container for the substance and follow any directions listed. The second step is to call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Many children’s exposures to poison can be treated at home, without a trip to the hospital. For instance, if a child drinks bleach, the best response may be a glass of milk to soothe the stomach.

Myth #4: When someone is choking, try to dislodge the item by reaching down the person’s throat.

Truth: Attempting to retrieve the blockage this way can actually push the object further into the person’s throat. Nor is it a good idea to dangle a choking child upside down—parents have been known to drop children, causing head injuries. The best response? Give the person a solid slap between the shoulder blades or perform the Heimlich maneuver. Note that patients who receive the Heimlich will want to get a check-up as soon as possible, since it can cause internal damage.

Myth #5: Never move someone who may have a spinal injury.

Truth: While moving someone could exacerbate a spinal injury, it could also be necessary to administer rescue breathing or CPR. Remember: if a person isn’t breathing, the person’s life is in danger, regardless of potential spinal injuries. Meanwhile, if a person is in a place where further injury could occur (for instance, in a busy intersection), it’s important to move that person to safety until medical help arrives.

If you have questions about first aid or emergency care, please contact us at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute. Visit us online or call Consult-a-Nurse® at 1-800-382-3522 for answers to your health questions and free physician referrals.

Whether you’re coming to the hospital for a follow-up appointment or to visit a loved one, it’s easy to make your way to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute. Public transit and other transportation options are all convenient and available.

Reaching the Hospital in an Emergency
If you are having a medical emergency and cannot transport yourself safely, call 911 and use an ambulance to get to the hospital. This is especially important if you suspect heart attack or stroke. The ambulance will deliver you directly to the emergency room, where you’ll be admitted and treated immediately. Usually an immediate family member can accompany patients in the ambulance.

Driving to Lawnwood
Lawnwood is located at 1700 S. 23rd Street, Ft. Pierce, FL 34950. To get driving directions from your location, visit our Google Maps page. Once you have arrived, follow the signs to Visitor Parking. If you have a medical emergency, head the emergency room. Otherwise, stop by the hospital lobby to get directions on where to go next.

Getting to Lawnwood by Public Transit
Community Transit offers bus service throughout Ft. Pierce on weekdays. There is no service on weekends or national holidays. The stop closest to Lawnwood is at the corner of Frist and 23rd St.

Regular fare is $1.00, although there are discounts for seniors, students, and patrons who receive Medicaid. For more information about fare and schedules, call Community Transit at 772-464—8878 or visit Community Transit online.

For riders who are in a wheelchair or have other special transportation needs, Community Transit provides point-to-point transportation by reservation. To apply for this service, call (772)464-7433.

Other Transportation Options
Patients who cannot transport themselves, but need assistance coming to the hospital for medical reasons, can contact the following services:

• St. Lucie Volunteer Ambulance, 335-5433
• We Care, Wheelchair, Stretcher, 772-398-0845
• All-County Ambulance, Wheelchair, Stretcher, 1 (800) 481-2910

Meanwhile taxis are always an option. The following companies offer taxi service throughout Ft. Pierce:

• Checker Cab (772) 334-1234 631 Glenview Ave, Fort Pierce, FL
• Yellow Cab (772) 878-1234 631 Glenview Ave, Fort Pierce, FL
• LA Taxi (772) 905-8907 119 Oneida Way, Fort Pierce, FL
• Treasure Coast Taxi, 772-335-1969

If you have questions about transportation or visiting Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute, visit us online or call us at (772) 461-4000.