title: Implementation of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest--a telephone survey of Connecticut hospitals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We hypothesize that despite excellent evidence supporting use of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) after cardiac arrest, only some of Connecticut hospitals utilize this technique for cardiac arrest patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone survey of all adult acute care Connecticut hospitals between January and April 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 31 adult acute care hospitals, 27 care for cardiac arrest patients. Seventeen out of 27 hospitals use TH (63%) for cardiac arrest patients. No significant association was found between use of TH and hospital size (P=0.14), ICU type (P=0.07) or BC/BE critical-care physician staffing (P= 0.22). Lack of resources and cost of TH were commonly mentioned as barriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapeutic hypothermia is underutilized in Connecticut with almost half of all hospitals currently not employing TH. Given the slow adoption rate of TH, state-level leadership may be indicated to accelerate implementation of this life-saving technique.
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Karol-kremens@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kremens
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seevaratnam
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: Dorothy B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Wakefield
authors.forename: Lewis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berman
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D059039:Standard of Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D016896:Treatment Outcome