M E M O /
N O T E D E S E R V I C E
|
|
To / Destinataire |
Acting
Mayor and Members of Council/Maire par intérim et Membres du Conseil
|
File/N° de
fichier: ACS2009-COS-EPS-0031 |
From / Expéditeur |
Chief Ottawa
Paramedic Service/ Chef du Service paramédic d’Ottawa |
|
Subject / Objet |
Date: May 25,
2009 / le 25 mai 2009 |
The purpose of this memo is to highlight the Ottawa Paramedic Service involvement in research of pre-hospital identification of a specific type of heart attack patients known as STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction). An elite group of Ottawa Paramedics worked jointly with a team of researchers from the Regional Paramedic Program of Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Heart Institute on the research project.
At the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians (NAEMSP) conference in January 2009, the team was presented the award for Best EMS Professional Research Presentation.
The most notable item from the research is that Paramedics are extremely proficient in detecting STEMI patients. The research was conducted on a sample taken from June 2007 through February 2008 of 1266 consecutive paramedic responses to cardiac type patients.
National
Award for Best EMS Professional Research Presentation
Pre-Hospital identification
of ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction.
An evaluation of independent
ECG interpretation by Ottawa Paramedics
Research Team: back
row: Dr. Justin Maloney, Ed Ouston ACP, Deanna Schofield ACP, Dr. Michel Lemay,
Jeremy Dougherty ACP, Peter Kelly ACP, John Trickett BScN , Dr. Richard Dionne,
Jeanny Verdon BscApp, Pierre Poirier ACP Debbie Charbonneau HRA, , (absent from
photo), Dr. Ian Stiell
How to attack a heart attack? Answer: A good patient assessment and an accurate, rapid interpretation of a 12 lead Electrocardiogram ECGs. Previously ECGs were done only in the Hospital Emergency Department. But what if it we can do it earlier? A team of researchers from the Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario the Ottawa Heart Institute and the Ottawa Paramedic Service has been recognized with an award from the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians (NAEMSP) for showing us how. Their groundbreaking study demonstrated that paramedics with enhanced training could identify a STEMI heart attack (STEMI) as accurately as physicians.
For the 8-month period, June 2007
to February 2008, the team reviewed 1266 consecutive ambulance responses for
patients with possible cardiac chest pain, of which 560 cases met the inclusion
criteria. Paramedics obtained ECGs on
these patients and identified those with a STEMI. A panel of physicians later reviewed the ECGs, providing the gold
standard reading without prior knowledge of the paramedic or the ECG monitor
software interpretations. Because these
Ottawa paramedics are able to identify STEMI at the scene with a high degree of
accuracy, there is no need to delay patient treatment or transport. Previously paramedics would be required to
transmit electronically an ECG and await a physician’s interpretation before
treating or transporting the patient to the appropriate care facility. This
important research is proof that the Ottawa Paramedic Service is showing the
world how to improve time to treatment for these STEMI patients. A one-page synopsis of the evaluation of independent ECG
interpretation by trained paramedics is
attached for your information.
Anthony
Di Monte
Chief, Ottawa
Paramedic Service
c.c.
Deputy City Manager, City Operations
General Manager, Emergency and
Protective Services