title: Setting up a heart emergency centre.
abstract: We describe the setting up of a 'heart emergency centre' linked to a pre-existing coronary care unit. The 'heart emergency centre' offers a new and efficient way of providing a fast and effective system for the assessment and management of patients with cardiac emergencies. This set-up can result in significant improvements in 'door to needle' time for thrombolysis, which has been shown to be beneficial both in terms of morbidity and mortality following myocardial infarction.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Centre, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Virk
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Edmunds
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D010360:Patient Transfer; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy