Study suggests paramedics may often take unresponsive cardiac patients to hospi

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From ACEP Daily Briefing

Study suggests paramedics may often take unresponsive cardiac patients to

hospital, despite guidelines.

HealthDay (6/30, Reinberg) reported that " chances of surviving a " cardiac arrest

" that occurs outside of a hospital are slim, but paramedics often take people

who have died to a hospital anyway because a variety of factors keep them from

following recommended guidelines, " according to a study published online June 30

in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. American Heart Association

" guidelines include the recommendation that people who have not responded to

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and advanced cardiac life support in the

field not be taken to a hospital. After paramedics have tried and failed to

resuscitate a patient, they should stop, researchers say. " However, " the

study...found that several factors inhibit this from happening, " such as " local

laws that mandate procedures for paramedics and other " personnel, " insurance

policies that allow higher reimbursement when someone is taken to a hospital, "

and " public misperception about the odds of survival. "

http://healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=628572

http://circoutcomes.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/CIRCOUTCOMES.108.830398\

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