Quality Improvement Initiative and Its Impact on the Management of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

497 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) discharged alive from a single institution between April 1, 1995, and February 28, 1997.

Quality improvement initiative directed at the patient, nurse, and physician, including the use of a patient education tool.

Patients in whom the patient education tool was not used.

Adherence to key quality indicators (use of reperfusion therapy, aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, lipid-lowering agents, avoidance of calcium channel blockers, low-fat diet, smoking cessation counseling, and outpatient rehabilitation referral).