title: Satisfaction with emergent transfer for percutaneous coronary interventions on patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and their families.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transfer for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is superior to fibrinolysis if performed in a timely manner but frequently requires dislocation of patients and their families from their local community. Although patient satisfaction is increasingly viewed as an important quality indicator, there are no data on how emergent transfer for PCI affects patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and their families.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Minneapolis Heart Institute's Level 1 Regional ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction program is designed to facilitate emergent transfer for PCI in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction from 31 rural and community hospitals. To determine the effect of emergent transfer, questionnaires were given to 152 patients and their families who survived to hospital discharge with a 65.8% response rate (mean age, 63.9 years; 29% women). Ninety-five percent of patients felt the reasons and process of transfer were well explained, and 97% felt transfer for care was necessary. Despite this, 15% of patients would have preferred to stay in their local hospital. The majority of the families felt the transfer process (88%) and family member's condition (94%) were well explained. Although 99% felt it was necessary for their family member to be transferred for specialized care, 11% of families still would have preferred that their family members remain at the local community hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients and families can be informed, even in time-critical situations, about the transfer process for PCI and understand the need for specialized care. Still, a significant minority would prefer to stay at their local hospital, despite acknowledging transfer for PCI provided optimal care.
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis MN and University of North Dakota Medical School, Grand Forks.
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: Ross F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Garberich
authors.forename: Chauncy B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Handran
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Barbara T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D057240:Patient Preference; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
keywords: ST-elevation myocardial infarction; patient education as topic; quality of health care; systems of care