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Prehospital identification of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) allows early cath lab activation, thereby reducing first medical contact-to-balloon time and mortality. Using anonymous surveys, researchers tested paramedics' abilities to recognize STEMI on electrocardiograms (ECGs). The 472 respondents worked within five counties in northeastern Ohio. Each survey contained ten standardized patient vignettes with actual prehospital ECGs representing three STEMIs (inferior, anterior, and lateral), five STEMI mimics (left ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular pacing, left and right bundle branch blocks, and supraventricular tachycardia), and two normal studies.
Of the respondents, 52% had 10 or more years of experience, 69% had r…