The American journal of cardiology
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For many patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs), the time from presentation to percutaneous coronary intervention exceeds established goals. This study was conducted to examine the effects of formalized data assessment and systematic feedback on treatment times. All patients with STEMIs treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in a semi-rural 3-hospital network from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2006, were prospectively analyzed (n = 114). ⋯ The proportion of patients with contact-to-balloon times <90 minutes increased from 21% to 79% (p <0.0001). There were significant reductions in the durations of initial treatment on location and in the emergency room and in puncture-to-balloon-time in the catheterization laboratory, and more patients were transported directly to the catheterization laboratory, bypassing the emergency room (from 23% in the reference quarter to 76% in the last intervention quarter, p <0.0001). In conclusion, formalized data feedback leads to marked reduction in revascularization times in patients with STEMIs.