Medical hypotheses
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The rationale and specifications for a permanent non-invasive cardiac monitoring device are described, including both an alarm and a device-initiated call (giving patient residence identification) to the emergency services number 911, if cardiac arrest is detected. This device may be useful for high-risk cardiac patients, who incur an unwitnessed cardiac arrest, by providing a prompt call and alarm for early initiation of bystander CPR, cardiac defibrillation (if necessary), advanced cardiac life-support, and early transfer of resuscitated patients to a hospital cardiac care unit. ⋯ With out-of-home unwitnessed cardiac arrest, ACADA-911 specifications also include a cardiac arrest-triggered determination of the patient's location through a commercially inexpensive global positioning system device, whose output is transmitted to EMS via an attached cellular phone/priority call network. A randomized controlled study evaluation of the device is proposed.