ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Adhering to core measures and consistent application of best practice guidelines in patients with acute coronary syndromes is challenging for hospitals. METHODS: A task force addressed gaps in care and adherence to guidelines, and included Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the decision pathway. RESULTS: Previously, our institutional performance on most core metrics was in the lower tertile nationally. Task force recommendations and the recognition of EMS's role in care produced significant improvement. Seventy-four percent of our cardiac catheterization laboratory activations were prehospital activations, which resulted in expeditious revascularization. Our composite acute myocardial infarction (MI) performance in 2014 was 97.5% for Q1, 97.2% for Q2, 97.3% for Q3, and 97.3% for Q4. Compliance in most of the individual parameters was greater than 95%. CONCLUSION: Identification of systemic gaps, application of best practice guidelines, and partnering with EMS improved our core measures and patient outcomes without the need for additional resources.
