Emergency medical service aspects of emergency cardiac care

Prehospital intervention has the potential for significantly affecting the outcome of cardiovascular emergencies. The authors examine multiple issues in prehospital care that can streamline and improve cardiac care. Improving access to prehospital care and increasing the use of the emergency medical services (EMS) system can speed interventions to the patients. The use of ECG in the out-of-hospital setting can reduce time to definitive treatment. Issues, such as the use of public access defibrillation and interfacility transports are also discussed.