National study on the quality of emergency department care in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction and pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES

To measure the quality of emergency department (ED) care for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and pneumonia (PNA) and to estimate the number of preventable deaths in these patients.

METHODS

The authors performed a cross sectional study of ED visits with the diagnosis of AMI or PNA from 1998 to 2004. Data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were used. The study involved 544 EDs across the United States. The authors measured the proportion of patients receiving recommended therapies for AMI (aspirin and beta-blockers [BBs]) and PNA (appropriate antibiotics and pulse oximetry). The excess deaths associated with current care were estimated.

RESULTS

Aspirin was administered to 40% and BBs to 17% of patients with AMI. Recommended antibiotics were administered to 69% and pulse oximetry was measured in 46% of patients with PNA. During the study period, the percentage receiving BBs and recommended antibiotics increased. There were more than 2.7 million opportunities to improve care and 22,000 excess deaths per year associated with current treatment of AMI and PNA.

CONCLUSIONS

Quality of care in the ED management of AMI and PNA is below national goals. This deficiency accounts for significant preventable deaths.