The policy went into effect in August, and through December, 22 requests had been made by EMS providers, Jerome said.
The idea for the policy originated with Howard County General Hospital officials. Under state requirements, hospitals are allowed 120 minutes between when a patient with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction - a type of heart attack - arrives at the hospital and when he is treated in the catheterization lab.
Howard County General is aiming to meet the 90-minute standard of the American College of Cardiology, said Pat Miller, coordinator of the catheterization lab.
The new policy has produced encouraging initial results. From Jan. 1 to June 30, 2007, the hospital had an average arrival-to-treatment time of 101 minutes, according to a Maryland Health Care Commission's quarterly report. From July 1 to Sept. 30, the most recent quarter for which data are available, that number dropped to 90 minutes.
For Tartufo, the result is more tangible. Poligardo, who is the treasurer for the Elkridge Fire Department and a popular figure there, first met the 23-year-old paramedic at a firehouse function the night he fell ill.
The 60-year-old, who had five artery blockages, including one 90 percent obstruction, made a full recovery.
"If it didn't totally save my life, I think it made it so I can live a normal life," Poligardo said.
Two days after Poligardo came home from the hospital, his entire family, including grandchildren, visited the fire department to thank Tartufo and the others who worked that night. They gave her two dozen roses and an "angel poem," which she keeps in her locker.
But Tartufo shrugs off the praise.
"I just did my job," the Worcester County resident said. "I did what I was trained to do, and luckily it saved his life."
emily.groves@baltsun.com
