HONOLULU --

All of the city's Emergency Medical Services vehicles are now fitted with a new device that doctors said will save the lives of heart attack victims.

The device, which is a wireless electrocardiogram -- or an EKG, transmits information to the hospital to let the doctors know when the patient will arrive, officials said.

They said moments after the patient suffers a heart attack, the EKG can send information immediately to the hospital before the victim is transported.

"During the period of time of getting the patient ready in the ambulance, transporting to the hospital, 10-15 minutes can be shaved off of that because the hospital will be ready awaiting the patient," EMS paramedic Alan Young said. "The faster the hospital can activate the cardiac cath. team, the better for the patient."

City officials said the electronic device saves valuable time and increases survival rates.

The Queen's Medical Center said it paid $25,000 each for the units. The said city paramedics are already using the EKGs.

"Target nationally is less than 90 minutes from when the patient reaches the door of the hospital until we open the artery," QMC cardiologist Dr. David Fergusson said.

In recent weeks, two heart attack patients were on the surgery table in less than 40 minutes, officials said.

Doctors said they are excited about the advancement, and they said lives have already been saved.

"There is no question that the quicker we get these arteries open, the lower the risk of dying from the heart attack," Fergusson said.

Medical experts said they also expect the EKGs to cut down on the lasting negative effects of heart attacks.

Currently, Queens is the only hospital to use the new technology.

The city said it wants all hospitals to use wireless EKGs by this time next year.

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