Prehospital actions by health-care providers and physicians

Extensive worldwide experience and literature exist on the benefits of early intervention in patients with an acute myocardial infarction. To make these benefits available to as much of the population as possible a number of goals have to be accomplished. Patients and bystanders must be taught to recognize the significance of symptoms and call immediately for assistance. Local emergency medical service has to dispatch appropriate personnel and equipment to the scene expeditiously. Transport without unacceptable delays must occur to appropriate facilities along with rapid initiation of treatment. A program to achieve these goals would be expected to substantially reduce morbidity and mortality. Attention is directed to prehospital actions by health-care providers including dispatch of personnel and equipment to the scene, stabilization and treatment in the field, and triage and transport of the patient to the most appropriate medical facility.