Regarding the proposed change to 12VAC5-31-390 "Destination to specialty care hospitals."  

The proposed change currently states "An EMS agency shall follow specialty care hospital triage plans for trauma, stroke, and others as recognized by OEMS..."  The Change should specifically add the diagnosis of STEMI to trauma and stroke and read "An EMS agency shall follow specialty care hospital triage plans for trauma, stroke, STEMI, and others as recognized by OEMS..."

STEMI, or ST elevation myocardial infarction, is a life threatening disease that requires rapid and highly specialized care.  Numerous studies have shown that rapid treatment, in particular, treatment to open the occluded coronary artery with percutaneous coronary intervention, can save lives.  National campaigns by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association and other organizations have focused attention on these life-saving measures.  Now, portable 12-lead EKG devices with radio transmission capabilities have created an opportunity to diagnose a STEMI in the field at an earlier stage, enabling transport of the patient to the most appropriate hospital where specialized care is available.  Like trauma and stroke, STEMI patients will be best served through proper triage to the appropriate facility.