JOURNAL OF IRANIAN CLINICAL RESEARCH *Correspondence: Mehdi Harorani, Emergency Department, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran, e-mail: m.harorani@yahoo.com JICR 2016;2(1): 153-157 ORIGINAL ARTICLE The Performance of Emergency Medicine Services for Patients with Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome, Arak, Iran Mehdi Safarabadi 1 , AbdolGhader Pakniyat 2 , Ahmad Dervishi 2 , Mehdi Harorani 3 1 Instructor, School of Paramedical Sciences, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak ,Iran 2 Student Research Committee, Emergency Department, Arak University of Medical Science, Arak, Iran. 3 Emergency Department, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran Keywords: Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Care, Heart Disease, Pre-Hospital ABSTRACT Introduction: Due to the lack of adequate and comprehensive data on the Emergency Medicine Services [EMS] performance in dealing with heart disease in Arak, we aimed to investigate the EMS performance to find its defects. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, the patients referred to Amir-Kabir and Amira-al- Momenin hospitals by the EMS from Mar 2011 to Jun 2012, suspected to heart problems based on their primary chief complaints were enrolled into the study. The age, sex, the time to announce the center for the mission, the time to move the ambulance, the time to arrive the scene [response time], the time to arrive the hospital (transport time), vital signs and the interventions by EMS personnel were recorded. Results: The average interval time from receiving the mission to move the ambulance was 58 sec, to arrival the scene (beside the patient) was 5.99 min, to stay at the scene was 13.4 min, and to arrival, the hospital was 11.43 min. Conclusion: The time spent on the scene and the interventions are not favorable compared with other studies and need improvement. In this regard, in order to improve the EMS, systematic qualitative studies, equipment improvement, improving the quality of the educational curriculum and treatment protocols are recommended. JOURNAL OF IRANIAN CLINICAL RESEARCH 2016;2(1):153-157 INTRODUCTION Accurate early intervention is the most important way to reduce morbidity and mortality due providing emergency care particularly in the acute cardiovascular events [1, 2]. Emergency care should be considered as an independent complete system including pre- hospital care, transportation and hospital care. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a fundamental part in emergency treatment, so The EMS system should be simple, consistent and effective [3]. Studying civilian helicopter plans in America shows that the transportation speed is not the primary factor to reduce the emergency patients' mortality, but the main factor is care management by the helicopter staff or the outlying hospital [4]. Therefore, EMS efficiency is dependent to various factors such as the ability of the personnel, equipment, coordination, and communication system [5]. The Ministry of Health is responsible to improve the EMS performance indicators. Therefore, evaluation of the current system is particularly important [6]. There is a significant difference in therapeutic interventions compared with international standard protocols. Accordingly, there is a need for systematic qualitative studies, equipment improvement, improving the quality of the educational curriculum, and therapeutic protocols to improve the EMS [7, 8]. Due to the lack of adequate and comprehensive data on the EMS performance to transfer patients with heart problems in Arak, we aimed to investigate the EMS performance to find its defects and resolve them by the authorities. Downloaded from jicr.arakmu.ac.ir at 9:18 +0430 on Tuesday April 10th 2018