EMS Prehospital Care and Destination Protocols for STEMI & Stroke

The chain of survival for a cardiac emergency and stroke start the same: 1.  preparedness & recognition of an emergency; 2.  activation of EMS; 3.  delivery of Advanced Life Support; and 4.  transporting to the most appropriate facility. Depending on where you live, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) may provide prehospital Advanced Life Support (ALS). ALS ambulances are staffed with paramedics who have training in ACLS skills.  Paramedics can perform an assessment, obtain a medical history, and provide life-saving care within minutes of recognition. Why EMS "Destination Protocols" for suspected stroke and STEMI make a difference. ACLS’s timed benchmarks for: point of first medical contact to PCI for ST elevation MI; door to tPA for ischemic stroke; and onset of symptoms to EVT for LVO strokes.<br/>EMS may bypass a close hospital to transport a STEMI or suspected stroke patient to a hospital capable of 24/7 PCI or a certified stroke center; because time is heart muscle or brain cells.Check out the Pod Resource page at passacls.com for links to the "EMS On Air" podcast for links to episodes that look at EMS's role in stroke outcomes in the rural vs urban area.Connect with me:Website:  https://passacls.com@PassACLS on Twitter@Pass-ACLS-Podcast on LinkedIn
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Good luck with your ACLS class!