Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Systemwide STEMI Reduction

OSF Healthcare, Peoria, Ill., wanted to improve the care of patients experiencing an ST elevation myocardial infarction. The scope of the original project was to effectively reduce STEMI identification and treatment time, and included three system percutaneous coronary intervention hospitals.

During the project, it became apparent that an opportunity existed to dramatically shorten the first patient contact to PCI time by allowing emergency medical services to obtain and send an initial ECG to the nearest facility allowing for earlier activation of the STEMI system.

Funding was provided to 48 EMS agencies and 14 affiliated and non-affiliated hospitals across Central and Northern Illinois to acquire the necessary software and hardware to transmit a pre-hospital ECG. For patients transported by several additional EMS agencies who technically could not apply the pre-hospital technology, the project team developed an education program to train the EMS agency staff in reading ECGs in the field.

This case study is part of the Illinois Hospital Association's annual quality awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals in continually improving and transforming health care in the state.  These hospitals are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim--improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction); improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita cost of health care.

Award recipients achieve measurable and meaningful progress in providing care that is:

• Safe
• Timely
• Effective
• Efficient
• Equitable
• Patient-centered

(The Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement.)