Existing Cardiac Arrest Survival Data
Much work has been done to standardize cardiac arrest outcome measures in an effort to facilitate comparisons across EMS systems, states and regions14, 16.
Although an SCA registry can be built using proprietary database programs such as Microsoft Access, this requires time and some degree of database development skill. A number of existing EMS data collection systems are in use throughout the US and Canada designed for similar purposes and which adhere to these definitions. Among the most well known are: NEMSIS, ARIXZONA SHARE, CARES, ROC EPISTRY.
The majority of the registries mentioned here have been developed for a specific geographic area or for research. As such they may not be accepting data. NEMSIS is in use in various degrees of functionality, for data collection in most states.
Some EMS systems have anticipated the importance of having a designed SCA registry and have either designed their own database, or use a proprietary system. Whichever method is used, it is s important that data be collected using standardized methods and there must be documented precise definitions for all elements included in the data dictionary.
Snapshot of Cardiac Arrest Registries
NEMSIS: National EMS Information System, est.2001
GOAL: A standardized data submission process useful for improving patient outcomes.
NEMSIS DATA: Contains over 400 standardized data elements
WEBSITE: www.nemsis.org
SHARE: Save Hearts in Arizona Registry and Education, est. 2005.
GOAL: A statewide quality improvement registry.
SHARE DATA: Prehospital and outcome data elements.
WEBSITE: www.azshare.gov
CARES: Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival, est. 2004.
GOAL: Essential data elements for prehospital cardiac arrest. CARES DATA:? Documents about 30 data elements and allows reporting and benchmarking.
WEBSITE: https://roc.uwctc.org
ROC EPISTRY: Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium Epidemiologic Data Registry, est. 2005.
GOAL: Data infrastructure for design and implementation of ROC trials.
EPISTRY DATA: 17,500 prehospital cardiac arrest cases each year including outcome data.
WEBSITE:? https://roc.uwctc.org
Public Reporting of Survival Rates to the Community
When an annual survival rate is calculated, it is important to take the crucial step of reporting the results publically to the community. This provides an excellent opportunity to enlist community members in joining the initiative to improve survival. The method by which communites choose to report their survival data varies, but could include one or more of the following methods: a press release; a written report to the community; publication of survival rates by year in the EMS system’s annual report to the city; or informing the city government leaders.