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Planning, Implementation, and Process Monitoring for Prehospital 12-Lead ECG Diagnostic Programs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Tom P. Aufderheide*
Affiliation:
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Emergency Medicine, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dean J. Kereiakes
Affiliation:
Director, Division of Cardiovascular Intervention, Cardiovascular Research Center,The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio
W. Douglas Weaver
Affiliation:
Director, Cardiac Critical Care, University of Washington Medical Center, Professor of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
W. Brian Gibler
Affiliation:
Richard C, Levy Professor of Emergency Medicine and Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine,University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Maarten L. Simoons
Affiliation:
Professor of Clinical Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
*
Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Emergency Medicine, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, FMLH East, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA

Abstract

Prehospital 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) diagnostic strategies have been proven feasible and effective, provided they are designed and implemented properly. The authors of this communication have expended considerable time and effort in determining appropriate planning, implementation, and process monitoring necessary for successful implementation of a variety of prehospital diagnostic strategies. Many of these issues may not be obvious to an emergency medical services (EMS) director initiating a 12-lead ECG program. This level of attention to protocol development, education, training, inservice education, coordination of the health-care community, objective program assessment, monitoring and continuos quality improvement can serve as a model for other diagnostic EMS programs that may develop as an expanded role for EMS.

Type
Special Report
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1996

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