Florida Association of EMS Medical Directors

ST Elevation MI (STEMI) Transportation Protocols

Position Statement

WHEREAS, there are 14, 275 incidents of cardiac arrest in Florida each year; and

WHEREAS, 13,596 people die each year as a result of those incidents; and

WHEREAS, there are 39,897 deaths each year in Florida as a result of MI’s; and

WHEREAS, there are 54,207 deaths each year in Florida as a result of cardiac disease (not including stroke)

WHEREAS, Florida EMS Medical Directors are obligated by law to transport to the closet most appropriate hospital destination, as per Rule 64E-2.004 (4)(A).

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Florida Association of EMS Medical Directors encourages every EMS system in Florida to optimize their cardiac destination protocols in order to ensure that every patient receives the highest quality care in the best manner possible.  Invasive Cardiac Centers would be preferred.

Be it further resolved that, based on recent literature, if available in the service region, patients with STEMI should be preferentially transported to hospitals capable of providing 24 hour a day 7 day a week Percutaneous Coronary Intervention within 120 minutes of arrival at the Emergency Department and having cardiac surgery readily available.

Pre-hospital 12 lead ECG capability is encouraged when feasible to alert emergency departments of patients with STEMI, and to triage to centers where optimal treatment can be administered.

Adopted this 9^th day of October, 2003