title: Integrating voices of survivors into the system of care post-cardiac arrest.
abstract: The management of patients after cardiac arrest is a prominent example of complexity on many levels of decisions. We designed a pathway for the management of survivors of cardiac arrest, guiding such decisions as cardiac catheterization, induction of therapeutic hypothermia, placement of defibrillator, and ethical decision making for life support. Our pathway outlines the comprehensive management of patients from the field through the emergency room, the cardiac catheterization laboratory, the cardiac care unit, step down unit, and the rehabilitation center. Involving patients and their families is a novel addition to a clinical pathway. We used the power of survivors' stories to inspire and educate clinicians in the utility of our multidisciplinary pathway approach. This approach may serve as a model for patient-centered care in medicine.
authors: Divisions of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York 10025, USA. eherzog@chpnet
authors: Eyal
authors: E
authors: Herzog
authors: Emad F
authors: EF
authors: Aziz
authors: Janet M
authors: JM
authors: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D022561:Advanced Cardiac Life Support / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000639:trends*; D019468:Disease Management; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology