Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

A New Single Chamber Implantable Defibrillator with Atrial Sensing: A Practical Demonstration of Sensing and Ease of Implantation
Published on: February 28, 2012
A public access defibrillation programme in non-inpatient hospital areas
Franklin D Friedman1, Karen Dowler, Mark S Link
1Tufts University School of Medicine, Emergency Physician, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Tufts-New England Medical Center, 750 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Ffriedman1@tufts-nemc.org
Introduction:
Automatic external defibrillators (AED) have proven to be valuable and life saving for out of hospital cardiac arrests. Their use in hospital arrests is less well documented, but they offer the opportunity to improve survival in the hospital setting also.
Methods:
The implementation of a public access defibrillation (PAD) programme at a tertiary care hospital is described, with reference specifically to targeting areas where time from arrest to arrival of defibrillation would be greater than 3 min.
Results:
Nine AEDs were placed in areas of the hospital distant from inpatient or outpatient floors. The locations of the AEDs were chosen based on a 3 min walk from currently available defibrillators to all areas of the hospital, including parking garages and walkways from building to building. In this programme AED use in non-inpatient hospital locations resulted in the resuscitation of a patient in ventricular fibrillation.
Conclusion:
PAD in non-inpatient hospital settings can be life saving and similar programmes should be considered for other hospitals.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation III: AED Use
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation I: Adult
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management
Pulse rhythm
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac muscle...
Dysrhythmias VI: Management of Dysrhythmias
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
