About Us

Community Involvement

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In February 1990, three years after the inception of HeartLink, our program kicked off its community outreach efforts with our first-ever Heart Smart Saturday. What started as a small setup with two tables and a few brochures is now a full-fledged, citywide event with more than 700 attendees and 120 volunteers.

But that's just one piece of HeartLink's involvement in the Collin County community. Our core philosophy encompasses much more than diagnosing and treating heart disease. As an extension of our work at the hospital, HeartLink also focuses on prevention, education and post-op support through the outreaches below.

Seminars
During February, HeartLink offers a series of evening seminars open to the public on new cardiac technology, treatments and how The Medical Center of Plano stays at the forefront of these developments.

Each year, we also educate more than 120 Plano school nurses on identifying arrhythmias in children. And, during the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women campaign, we teach heart disease prevention to female school staff, including nurses, principals and teachers.

Heart Smart Saturday
More than 700 people visit our annual Heart Smart Saturday at The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano. Attendees receive free screenings for cholesterol, stability/balance, osteoporosis, blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, body fat and grip strength, as well as complimentary EKGs.

A pharmacist and physician are on site to answer all your health questions. Plus, if you bring the kids, they learn the importance of dialing 911 in an emergency.  

Target EMS
When it comes to successfully treating cardiac patients, our hospital's work is only part of the equation. We believe our strategic relationships with local emergency medical services (EMS) also make a huge difference in patient outcomes. So, each quarter, The Medical Center of Plano educates EMS agencies on stroke, trauma, hypothermia therapy and more.

Working together, we provide patients with state-of-the-art care from the moment they dial 911. Learn more about our close partnership with Plano EMS, through which we beat the national benchmark for "STEMI time" by 41.5 minutes (This is the time it takes to re-establish blood flow from the time a heart attack patient arrives at our Emergency Room.) Learn More.

HeartCaring
In 2005, The Medical Center of Plano was certified by HeartCaring, a national program for hospitals and physician practices that indicates excellence in gender-specific heart care. The program helps hospitals, physicians and consumers work together to reduce death and heart disease in women.

Through HeartCaring, we educate local physicians and their employees (including the front office staff) on identifying heart problems in female patients. As a result, Collin County women receive a clear, consistent message about heart disease, even if the only doctor they see is an off-site OB/GYN.

Plano After Dark
Since the late 1990s, each April The Medical Center of Plano has partnered with local emergency services and Plano Youth Leadership, a leadership development program, to create a live dramatization of the dangers that occur on Plano streets at night. About 30 high school student leaders follow a series of life-changing events - from the scene of an alcohol-related car accident all the way to the morgue.

While at the hospital, students watch emergency room trauma cases, simulated surgeries, the delivery of a premature baby, a heart attack case and more. Teens leave the experience with deeper leadership skills, as well as the sobering realization of how one wrong decision can turn to disaster - and why it's important to make wise choices the first time around.

Peripheral Artery Disease Screenings
Many people never notice symptoms of peripheral artery disease, or PAD. And those who do may mistake them for something else, such as a muscle or back ailment. According to the American Heart Association, this disease affects about 8 million Americans, many of them over the age of 65. Early diagnosis is critical, because people with PAD have a four or five times greater risk of heart attack or stroke.

That's why The Medical Center of Plano offers free PAD screenings every September. Out of all the screenings, about 10 percent of patients need follow-up care. As part of this outreach, we also educate the community on the causes of PAD, prevention and treatment options.

Sports Physicals for Student Athletes
You've seen the news stories of high school athletes who died from an undiagnosed heart problem. At The Medical Center of Plano, we do everything possible to prevent that sort of tragedy in our community.

This includes free sports physicals and EKGs for student athletes, with referrals to pediatric cardiologists when necessary. We also have donated automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to Plano ISD for use in their stadiums.

Mended Hearts Support Group
Each month, 50 to 60 cardiac patients and their families gather to encourage each other during the recovery process. Our chapter of Mended Hearts is the only one in Collin County, so patients from competing hospitals may take advantage of this resource.

As part of a national organization, Mended Hearts addresses a variety of topics, from which restaurants serve a heart-healthy menu to restoring relationships after heart disease. The group also visits patients post-surgery to donate food and emotional support. Mended Hearts meets at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month in the second-floor classrooms at The Medical Center of Plano. For more information, call (214) 473-7675.