Moving care forward: prehospital emergency cardiac systems.

摘要

In 1967, the modern era of prehospital emergency cardiac care began with Dr Frank Pantridge's publication of "A mobile intensive-care unit in the management of myocardial infarction."1 Recognizing that myocardial infarction mortality could be reduced by interventions prior to hospital arrival, Dr Pantridge developed a specialized ambulance system in Belfast, Ireland to stabilize and transport patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction to the Royal Victoria Hospital. Within 3 years, Dr Pantridge's system was being replicated in the United States, first in Haywood County, NC and subsequently in Pittsburgh, Pa, Seattle, Wash, Miami, Fla, and Los Angeles,. Calif. Dr Pantridge recognized the importance of collecting performance data and setting time standards, including a goal of 15 minutes from dispatch to patient arrival. His initial publication documented an improvement in the percentage of calls meeting this goal from 20% to 78%