Heart Attack Care
Heart Attacks occur when one of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle is blocked. This results in death of, or damage to part of the heart muscle due to an insufficient blood supply. Appropriate recommended care includes giving asprin and beta blockers on arrival to the hospital, advising smokers to quit, and prescribing specific medications upon discharge from the hospital.
A composite score is a single score that reflects the following aspects of Heart Attack care when appropriate:
- Administering aspirin on arrival
- Administering beta blockers on arrival
- Administering ACE Inhibitors or ARBs (specific heart medication)
- Administering aspirin at discharge
- Administering beta blockers at discharge
- Advice to stop smoking
- Administering fibrinolytic medication (blood thinners) within 30 minutes
- Performing percutaneous coronary interventions within 90 minutes of arrival (cardiac catheterization)