Northside Hospital has partnered with the City of Sandy Springs, Avive Solutions and the Sandy Springs Fire Department to launch a community-wide initiative aimed at improving survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
The effort is part of Avive’s 4 Minute Community™ Program, a public health initiative that equips trained volunteers with connected AEDs to deliver lifesaving care before first responders arrive.
Why it matters: SCA is a critical medical emergency that occurs when the heart unexpectedly stops beating normally. In the United States alone, there are more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests reported every year, according to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, with nearly 90% resulting in fatalities.
The 4 Minute Community Program arms CPR-trained community volunteers with connected AEDs that can be dispatched via 911, aiming to deliver life-saving shocks within minutes.
"Expanding the 4 Minute Community Program into Sandy Springs represents another powerful step in Northside's commitment to building healthier, safer communities," said Kim Anker, director of the Northside Hospital Foundation. "This partnership brings together innovative technology, passionate local leadership and generous community support — all working toward one lifesaving goal.”
“We're honored to help drive this initiative forward and thankful to everyone who's making it possible,” Anker added.
How it works:
- 200 Avive Connect AED®s will be placed with trained citizens across Sandy Springs.
- When 911 is called, nearby Cardiac Arrest Rapid Engagement (CARE) team members can be alerted and guided to the scene.
- AEDs provide real-time instructions and transmit early data to emergency departments.
"This program not only helps save lives in the field — it also gives our medical teams a clearer picture of what occurred in those crucial first minutes," said Dr. Jeffrey Marshall, cardiologist at Northside Hospital Heart Institute.
"With access to real-time data and insights captured before EMS even arrives, we can make more informed clinical decisions the moment a patient enters our care. That's an extraordinary advancement, and we believe it will translate to better outcomes and more lives saved."
Zoom out: Northside is also supporting the program in Forsyth County. Leaders say this regional expansion could serve as a model for national implementation.
Learn more about the Sandy Springs 4 Minute Community Program and become a care team member.
Pictured at top: (from left) Meir Berkman, chief strategy officer of Avive Solutions; Kelli Buchwald, community relations manager of the Northside Hospital Foundation; Dr. Jeff Marshall, interventional cardiologist, Northside Hospital Heart Institute; Patrick Flaherty, section chief at Sandy Springs Fire Department; and Jason Grady, NRP, FSCAI, AACC, Northside system manager for emergency cardiac care.
