title: Prehospital 12-lead ECG. An evolving standard of care in EMS systems.
abstract: The prehospital 12-lead ECG has evolved from an unproven "luxury" item to a standard of care for contemporary EMS systems. The initial impact of transmitted ECGs was to dramatically reduce door-to-drug or door-to-lab intervals by giving a "heads-up" to the receiving facility. With better reperfusion drugs and techniques and the development of committed cardiac specialty centers, the prehospital ECG now plays an important role in screening for field therapy or directing patients to the most appropriate facility for definitive care. EMS systems should critically evaluate their role in establishing a community-wide standard for management of patients with acute coronary syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Travis County EMS System, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Racht
mesh_terms: D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000592:standards*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D014218:Triage; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents