Introduction:
EMS system factors key to improved survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have not been well elucidated. This study explores factors associated with sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in the field with pulse upon arrival to the ED-a measure of high quality of prehospital care-across the chain of survival.
Methods:
This sequential mixed methods study used data from the Michigan Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (MI-CARES) to evaluate variation in OHCA outcomes across EMS agencies. Sites were sampled based on geography, rurality, population density, and survival rate. We visited 1 low-, 1 middle-, and 3 high-survival EMS systems. At each site, we conducted key informant interviews with field staff, mid-level managers, and leadership from EMS, police, fire, and dispatch, as well as multidisciplinary focus groups. Transcripts were coded using a structured codebook and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results:
An integrated multidisciplinary approach was critical for timely OHCA care coordination across the chain of survival. Themes that emerged across all stakeholders included: 1) OHCA education and multidisciplinary training; 2) shared awareness of roles in the chain of survival and system-wide response; 4) multidisciplinary QI; and 5) leadership and initiative (Table 1).
Conclusions:
Recognizing the critical role of each level in the chain of survival, this study identified specific practices from EMS system stakeholders that were associated with improved survival. The next phase of this work will include validating the factors associated with increased survival identified through a statewide survey of EMS agencies in Michigan. The final product of this work will include a toolkit of best practices and an implementation guide.
A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF BEST PRACTICES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CARDIAC ARREST PATIENTS: INCREASING THE ‘CHAIN OF SURVIVAL’
