A healthcare provider holding a medical chart.

Improvement in Timely Access to STEMI Care in Ontario

CorHealth Ontario would like to congratulate the 20 cardiac programs for their efforts in improving timely ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) access in Ontario. These efforts, including partnering with local paramedic services and emergency departments, and re-enforcing key aspects of STEMI care, such as early electrocardiogram (ECG) acquisition and rapid transport to the catheterization lab, impact the treatment and outcomes of heart attack victims every day. Since CorHealth Ontario launched the Quality Performance Measurement & Monitoring (QPMM) Cycle in 2017, we have seen an improvement in timely access to STEMI care in the province.

The QPMM Cycle is a platform for regular dialogue around quality metrics for cardiac care between all 20 cardiac programs in Ontario, the Local Health Integrated Networks (LHINs) and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). There are currently two areas of focus in the QPMM discussions:

  1. Timely Access to Reperfusion Therapy for STEMI, with a focus on providing timely STEMI care in order to reduce harmful delays for patients
  2. Effective use of Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization, with a focus on ensuring effective care for patients who may require cardiac catheterization

Discussions take place biannually and the focus of the discussions rotate between the STEMI Indicators and the Cardiac Catheterization Indicators.

October 2018 concluded one year of reporting and discussion on the STEMI Indicators, and there has been notable improvement across the STEMI system at the provincial level during this time period. Between Q2 17/18 and Q2 18/19, there has been improvement in the following two STEMI indicators:

  1. Percentage of STEMI Cases Presenting Directly to a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Hospital Achieving Time <90 Minutes from First Medical Contact to First Balloon Inflation/Device Deployment showed a 5% overall improvement
  2. Percentage of STEMI Cases Achieving Time <120 Minutes from Non-PCI Hospital ED Triage/Registration (Hospital Arrival) to First Balloon Inflation/Device Deployment showed a 6% overall improvement

CorHealth Ontario would like to thank the 20 cardiac programs, LHINs and MOHLTC for their focus on quality improvement and we look forward to our continued partnership to improve cardiac care in Ontario.

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