Graduation Year

2010

Publication Date

4-2010

Abstract

A significant amount of research has been done in an attempt to improve the outcomes of patients found in cardiac arrest outside the hospital. The American Heart Association has long advocated Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), a procedure that encompasses cycles of chest compressions with advanced airway maintenance and defibrillation. Recent evidence has suggested that these current guidelines are ineffective due to prolonged “hands off” time. New research suggests utilizing a technique known as continuous chest compression CPR that delays advanced airway management and instead focuses on defibrillation and continuous chest compressions. Across the country, research has demonstrated that when EMS providers utilize this technique and have support from the receiving hospital, survival to hospital discharge rates have increased from 4.7% (using standard ACLS) to 17.6% (with the new technique). The Newark (OH) Fire Department protocols were modified to implement continuous chest compression CPR for the care of patients in cardiac arrest. The present research analyzes quality improvement (QI) / quality assurance (QA) data from this fire department to determine how the change in protocol affected patient outcome. The results of this study suggest that patient outcome is not related to the type of cardiac arrest treatment provided by EMS.

Disciplines

Other Public Health | Psychology

Download

Share

COinS