The number of systems of care that quickly transfer and treat heart attack patients has increased substantially across the nation, accordingto research published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes , an American Heart Association journal. Results of a national survey from the American Heart Association'sMission: Lifeline® STEMI program found similar characteristicsand challenges with regional care systems that treat patients withST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most severeform of heart attack. Each year in the United States, nearly 300,000 people have a STEMI,which occurs when a blood clot completely blocks an artery to theheart. To prevent death, it's critical to immediately restore bloodflow, either by surgically opening the blocked vessel or by givingclot-busting medication. Ideally, the initial 9-1-1 call activates the STEMI system whensomeone suffers a heart attack. The continuum includes the carepatients receive in route to and at hospitals. Between April 2008 and January 2010, 381 STEMI-care systems,representing 899 hospitals in 47 states, responded to the Mission:Lifeline survey. Systems included at least one hospital thatperforms the artery-opening procedure percutaneous coronaryintervention (PCI) and one emergency medical service (EMS) group. Two-thirds (67 percent) of the systems were in urban areas and mostfollowed standard quality procedures and policies, including: Admitting STEMI patients even when a hospital bed was not readilyavailable (97 percent). Requiring a single phone call to activate the catheterization labfor PCI treatment (92 percent). Permitting the emergency department physician to activate the cathlab without consulting a cardiologist (87 percent) and allowing thecath lab to be activated without cardiology consult prior to thepatient arriving at the hospital (78 percent). Participating in a data collection registry (84 percent). The most common barrier to implementing systems was competitionamong hospitals (37 percent) and cardiology groups (21 percent).Twenty-six percent of the systems have difficulties with EMStransport and finances. "It's essential to get competing hospitals and separate EMSagencies within a community to work as a team to provide optimalcare for heart attack patients," said James G. Jollis, M.D., thestudy's lead author and professor of medicine at Duke UniversityMedical Center in Durham, N.C. "These study findings can serve as abenchmark and lessons learned as additional communities across thecountry create their own systems of coordinated, integrated,evidence-based care for STEMI patients." PCI hospitals (84 percent) and/or cardiology practices (23 percent)provided funding for most of the systems. More than 580 community-based STEMI systems are now registered inMission: Lifeline, covering more than 60 percent of the U.S.population. The American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline Heart AttackReferring/Receiving Center Accreditation program now recognizeshospitals for quickly and appropriately treating heart attackpatients. Ten hospitals have been accredited to date, with moreapplications being considered. About 200 hospitals also receiverecognition awards each year for meeting certain performancecriteria. "Since Mission: Lifeline launched, we've seen major improvements inthe coordinated care of heart attack patients," said ChristopherGranger, M.D., study co-author, chair of the Mission: LifelineSTEMI advisory working group and professor of medicine at DukeUniversity Medical Center in Durham, N.C. "Paramedics are makingthe STEMI diagnosis earlier, patients are being transported ortransferred to appropriate hospitals more quickly, and blockedarteries are being opened faster - all translating to more livessaved." Using the survey as a snapshot, success can be improved upon evenmore to ensure that all patients are getting the recommended bestpractices in STEMI care, Granger said. Additional References Citations. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as LED Wall Wash Light , LED Track Light Fixtures for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits LED Recessed Downlights.
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