What strategies have been developed to increase the number of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients with timely access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention?
Recommendations to develop strategies to increase the number of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients with timely access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention have been established by Jacobs et al. (2006). These strategies include improving patient awareness of the warning signs of an ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and increasing access to prehospital 12-lead electrocardiograms to quickly identify and treat the condition. Other strategies include improving door-to-drug and door-to-balloon times, establishing protocols to reduce the time from symptom onset to reperfusion therapy, and implementing quality improvement initiatives to sustain and improve performance in time to reperfusion. 