21 Hospitals Collaborate for Faster Heart Attack Assistance - Thuringia's New Heart Attack Network Aims to Save Lives Faster

A new hospital network in Thuringia has launched to speed up emergency care for heart attack patients. The initiative is part of the state's broader plan to improve acute medical treatment. Officials hope it will cut delays and save more lives each year.

The network, known as the Thuringia Heart Attack Network, connects 21 hospitals across the region. Participating facilities include those in Bad Salzungen, Suhl, Gotha, Gera, Greiz, Jena, Weimar, and Erfurt. Each hospital must meet strict criteria: a working cardiac catheterisation lab and at least four cardiologists available around the clock.

Emergency services now follow updated guidelines when responding to suspected heart attacks. If a network hospital is within a reasonable distance, patients are taken there directly. The goal is to reduce the time between diagnosis and treatment, which is critical for survival.

Every year, between 1,500 and 1,800 people in Thuringia die from acute heart attacks. The network aims to lower this number by ensuring faster access to specialist care. Hospitals in the system must also meet structural and staffing standards to handle severe cases effectively.

The network forms a central part of Thuringia's new hospital plan. By focusing on rapid response and specialist treatment, it seeks to improve recovery rates for heart attack patients. All participating hospitals have been selected based on their ability to deliver immediate, high-quality cardiac care.