MODELS FOR EVALUATION OF PRE-HOSPITAL CORONARY CARE

A model is presented for the application of decision technics to the evaluation of alternative methods for pre-hospital care of heart attack. Such a model forces critical examination of goals and of all feasible methods for achieving these goals, and requires comparison of costs with benefits or effectiveness. Using the limited data available, this analysis suggests that if heart attack mortality in the population is to be substantially reduced, strategies of pre-coronary care are required which (1) would provide greater specificity in the identification of the person who is at high risk of sudden death due to heart attack and (2) would intercept the victim at the earliest feasible phase of the potentially fatal illness. As these strategies are developed, collection of further relevant data and application of the evaluation technics discussed will permit rational choice among the alternative methods. © 1969.