ACSQHC-ARCR-66

Purpose: Ambulance Victoria (AV) is the state-wide emergency medical service for almost 6.6 million Victorian residents. Historically paramedic collected electronic patient care records are uploaded and stored in the AV clinical data warehouse and data are used to report on clinical quality improvement and audit, operational improvement, and for research and evaluation. ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) represents an important cohort needing additional time-critical monitoring, assessment and management to ensure optimal patient outcomes. AV has established the Victorian Ambulance STEMI Quality Initiative (VASQI) for this purpose.

Aims: AV STEMI management has grown in complexity in recent years, including the service-wide rollout of pre-hospital 12-lead ECG, administration of aspirin and heparin, and pre-hospital thrombolysis in selected rural/remote patients. Assessing the quality and safety of these complex interventions is vital and it is the aim of VASQI to undertake these assessments, monitor safety and progress, provide vital feedback to the paramedic workforce and measure patient outcomes.

Population: Eligible patients are those attended by AV and treated for a paramedic suspected STEMI.

Outcomes: Monitor the quality and safety of treatment and procedures performed by paramedics on patients presenting with cardiovascular symptoms consistent with STEMI. This includes linkage with hospital treatment and outcome data which will form part of a feedback circle to assess accuracy of diagnosis.