Regionalizing Care for Acute MI Patients

Two regional programs to improve time-to-reperfusion for STEMI patients achieved impressive results.

Transferring acute MI patients for primary percutaneous coronary intervention has demonstrated benefit in some European trials but may be impractical in the U.S., where transfer times are longer than in Europe. In two new studies, investigators examined regional approaches to the transfer of STEMI patients from community hospitals to PCI centers.

The first study describes a regional program involving 30 community hospitals in Minnesota: 11 <60 miles (zone 1), and 19 between 60 and 210 miles from the PCI center (zone 2). A standardized approach was developed that included single-call system activation by the emergency department (ED) physician; a toolkit containing a protocol checklist, transfer forms, and adjunctive medications; and transfer…

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI