UW to lead expansion of Medtronic’s HeartRescue program

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) said today that the University of Washington will lead a U.S. expansion of its HeartRescue program, which aims to improve survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest.

Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic launched HeartRescue in 2010 in 5 states, looking to train healthcare providers on resuscitation methods to boost the SCA survival rate, which has not moved in 30 years, the company said. In addition to charter states Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington, Maryland, Utah and Michigan have also joined the initiative.

“In no other health condition does life and death hang in such a time-pressured balance, relying on a diverse set of rescuers who must immediately work together,” UW’s Dr. Thomas Rea, who’s slated to lead the U.S. HeartRescue Consortium, said in prepared remarks. “For too long, we thought nothing could be done. But the HeartRescue Project proved that we can make a difference. The time is now to take these results to more places.”

“The HeartRescue Project is a tremendous success, and clearly demonstrates that when we all work together, we can definitively improve health,” added Medtronic Philanthropy president Dr. Jacob Gayle. “We know that the U.S. HeartRescue Consortium will bring that spirit and expertise to more places, increasing the odds that even more people survive a cardiac event and go on to lead healthy, happy, productive lives.”

The consortium is targeting the addition of 17 states to the program by 2019, with the goal of collectively improving survival rates by 25% in 4 years. Medtronic Philanthropy pledged to donate $2 million to the program over 4 years, the company said.

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