title: National Heart Attack Alert Program position paper: chest pain centers and programs for the evaluation of acute cardiac ischemia.
abstract: The National Heart Attack Alert Program (NHAAP), which is coordinated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), promotes the early detection and optimal treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction and other acute coronary ischemic syndromes. The NHAAP, having observed the development and growth of chest pain centers in emergency departments with special interest, created a task force to evaluate such centers and make recommendations pertaining to the management of patients with acute cardiac ischemia. This position paper offers recommendations to assist emergency physicians in EDs, including those with chest pain centers, in providing comprehensive care for patients with acute cardiac ischemia.
authors.affiliation: National Heart Attack Alert Program, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-2480, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Zalenski
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Selker
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cannon
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Farin
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Gibler
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lambrew
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ornato
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rydman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steele
mesh_terms: D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D014481:United States