Robert Farrell

Publications of Robert Farrell

• Overcoming barriers to developing seamless ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction care systems in the United States: recommendations from a comprehensive Prehospital 12-lead Electrocardiogram Working Group.

  Authors: Daniel M Frendl, Sebastian T Palmeri, J Robert Clapp, David Hampton, Maria Sejersten, Dwayne Young, Barbara Drew, Robert Farrell, Jan Innes, James Russell, G Ian Rowlandson, Yanina Purim-Shem-Tov, B Kevin Underhill, Sophia Zhou, Galen S Wagner

  Journal of electrocardiology. 06/2009;

  BACKGROUND: Reducing time to reperfusion treatment for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) improves patient outcomes. Few medical systems consistently meet currentBACKGROUND: Reducing time to reperfusion treatment for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) improves patient outcomes. Few medical systems consistently meet current benchmarks regarding timely access to treatment. Studies have widely demonstrated that prehospital 12-lead electrocardiography can facilitate early catheterization laboratory activation and is the most effective means of decreasing patients' time to treatment. METHODS: We gathered experts to examine the barriers to implementation of prehospital 12-lead electrocardiographic monitoring and transmission to in-hospital cardiologists in creating seamless STEMI care systems (STEMI-CS) and propose multidisciplinary approaches to overcoming these barriers. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Physicians, hospital systems, and emergency medical services often lack coordination of care delivery and receive fragmented funding and oversight. Clinical and regulatory guidelines do not emphasize local solutions to achieving clinical benchmarks, do not target incentives at all components of the STEMI-CS, and underemphasize risk-based approaches to protecting patient health. Integration of the multiple complex components involved in STEMI-CS is essential to improving care delivery.