Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) constitute a high-risk group who benefit significantly from established community and regional plans aimed at achieving coronary artery reperfusion at the earliest possible time. Public awareness of the symptoms of a heart attack, the presence of rapid response teams to transport and treat STEMI patients, and appropriate hospital facilities are essential components of this effort. Routine patient and health system data collection and analysis and comparison of risk-adjusted outcomes are required to ensure that physician and system performances are comparable to regional and national norms and to permit corrective action where needed. Enhanced regional efforts have been shown to improve treatment times and outcomes with a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients treated with PCI.
Copyright 2018, The Author(s).