Objectives Most U.S. hospitals lack primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) capabilities to treat patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) necessitating transfer to PCI-capable centers. Transferred patients rarely meet the 120-minute benchmark for timely reperfusion and referring EDs are a major source of preventable delays. We sought to use more granular data at transferring EDs to describe the variability in length of stay at referring EDs. Methods We retrospectively analyzed a secondary dataset used for quality improvement for patients with STEMI transferred to a single PCI center between 2008 and 2012. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the total time spent at each referring ED (door-in-door-out [DIDO] interval), time periods that comprised DIDO (door-to-EKG, EKG-to-PCI activation, and PCI activation-to-exit), and the relationship of each period with overall time to reperfusion (medical contact-to-balloon [MCTB] interval). Results We identified 41 EDs that transferred 620 patients between 2008 and 2012. Median MCTB was 135 minutes (IQR 114,172). Median overall ED DIDO was 74 minutes (IQR 56,103) and was comprised of: door-to-EKG 5 minutes (IQR 2,11), EKG-to-PCI activation 18 minutes (IQR 7,37), and PCI activation-to-exit 44 minutes (IQR 34,56). DIDO accounted for the largest proportion (60%) of overall MCTB and had the largest variability (coefficient of variability=1.37) of these intervals. Conclusions In this cohort of transferring EDs, we found high variability and substantial delays after EKG performance for patients with STEMI. Factors influencing ED decision-making and transportation coordination following PCI activation are a potential target for intervention to improve the timeliness of reperfusion in patients with STEMI.

Through the development of an Acute PE Network, with incorporation of a PERT and implementation of a critical care pathway, we report an innovative treatment approach to acute PE that includes utilization of USAT for submassive PE.

In our single-center experience, 22 scene STEMI patients were diagnosed and appropriately triaged by EMS to our center for primary PCI. Our data show feasibility of an EMS-activated STEMI network over long distances with good reperfusion times.

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