A Multifaceted Transfer Protocol Reduces the Door-in to Door-out Time for STEMI Patients Requiring Interhospital Helicopter Transfer

Introduction: For the half a million patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who present to Emergency Departments every year, timely percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred treatment. 1, 2 Current guidelines recommend that the time between first medical contact with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and PCI should be less than 90 minutes, as this timeframe is associated with a significantly decreased rate of morbidity and mortality.1, 2 Because not every hospital is PCI capable, many patients require interfacility transfer, often via helicopter EMS (HEMS). 2-4 The need for transfer often causes delays in definitive treatment.