Cox Monett Hospital is excited to announce it has earned the Level III STEMI Center designation from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).

The new designation is an upgrade from Level IV which Cox Monett has held since 2018.

ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is a potentially fatal heart attack. Specific therapies administered to STEMI patients within a brief time of symptom onset have been proven to reduce mortality and disability.

“As a certified Level III STEMI Center, we are following proven protocols and processes when it comes to emergent cardiac care and stabilization,” says, Dr. Megan Carter, medical director of the Cox Monett Emergency Department. “We voluntarily completed the rigorous process to achieve this designation because it was the right thing to do for our community, which is proving to save lives.”

The Time Critical Diagnosis system, created in 2013 through DHSS, is a statewide emergency medical care response system aimed at providing quicker response and higher quality care when a time-critical emergency happens. The goal is to create consistent, statewide rules and regulations to help EMS, EMTs, and hospital personnel ensure patients are being transported and treated by the most appropriate facility for their needs.

“The upgraded designation focuses on the recovery process,” says Carter. “When a patient suffers a heart attack, we know they are more likely to achieve better outcomes when recovering close to home. “The successful outpatient cardiac rehab program at Cox Monett is second to none; I’m so proud to be able to provide post-cardiac care at our five-star rural hospital.”

A heart attack occurs when there is a significant decrease in or cessation of blood supply to the heart muscle. Quick treatment can restore blood flow to the heart and save your life.

Signs and symptoms of a heart attack:

Chest pain - sometimes the pain will feel like it is moving up into the shoulders, neck, arms, or jaw
Nausea and sometimes abdominal pain
Shortness of breath
Feeling cold and clammy
Unusual fatigue or tiredness
Dizziness or fainting

In addition to Cox Monett’s designation, Cox South is designated as a Level I STEMI Center, and Cox Branson as a Level II.

Cox Monett upgrades to a Level III STEMI Center designation