Evaluating Medical Technology

Editorials1 December 1976Evaluating Medical TechnologyOSLER L. PETERSON, M.D., F.A.C.P.OSLER L. PETERSON, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-85-6-819 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptStross and colleagues, in this issue, report a carefully planned extension of coronary care units to small community hospitals of rural, sparsely settled northern Michigan. The installation of the units was accompanied by training of medical and nursing personnel and other measures to assure competent performance and management, a frequently neglected detail. These areas and institutions would not have had coronary care units if conventional guidelines had been followed. The reasons were obvious: lack of professional skills, few patients, and uneconomical operation with very high cost per patient-day of intensive care.This program included one further salutary step. The effectiveness...References1. DAY H: Effectiveness of an intensive coronary care area. Am J Cardiol 15:51-54, 1965 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. GOBLESLOMANROBINSON AGJ: Mortality reduction in a coronary care unit. Br Med J 1:1005-1009, 1966 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. LOWNVASSAUXHOOD BCW: Unresolved problems in coronary care. Am J Cardiol 20:494, 1967 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. KILLIPKIMBALL TJ: Treatment of myocardial infarction in a coronary care unit: a two year experience with 250 patients. Am J Cardiol 20:457, 1967 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. HOFVENDAHL S: Influence of treatment in a coronary care unit on prognosis in acute myocardial infarction. Acta Med Scand Suppl 519:1-78, 1971 Google Scholar6. CHRISTIANSENIVERSENSKOUBY IKA: Benefits obtained by the introduction of a coronary care unit. Acta Med Scand 189: 285-291, 1971 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. NORRISBRANDTCAUGHEY RPD: A new coronary prognostic index. Lancet 1:274-277, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. NORRISBRANDTLEE RPA: Mortality in a coronary-care unit analyzed by a new coronary prognostic index. See Reference 7, pp. 278-281 Google Scholar9. MATHERPEARSONREAD HNK: Acute myocardial infarctions: home or hospital treatment. Br Med J 3:334-338, 1971 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. GIFFORDFEINSTEIN RA: A critique of methodology in studies of anticoagulant therapy for acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 280:351-357, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. MATHERMORGANPEARSON HDN: Myocardial infarction: a comparison between home and hospital care for patients. Br Med J 1:925-929, 1976 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. ROSE G: The contribution of intensive coronary care. Br J Prev Soc Med 29:147-150, 1975 MedlineGoogle Scholar13. BLOOMPETERSON BO: End results, cost and productivity of coronary care units. N Engl J Med 288:72-78, 1973 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. LOWNSELZER BA: The coronary care unit. Am J Cardiol 22: 597-602, 1968 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byRenal transplantationThe Recent Decline in Ischemic Heart Disease MortalityMICHAEL P. STERN, M.D.CLINICAL EVALUATION OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC SCANNINGMechanics of ChangeMultiple Endpoints in the Assessment of Non-Invasive TechnologyPotential value of thallium-201 scintigraphy as a means of selecting patients for the coronary care unit.Myocardial Ischemia 1 December 1976Volume 85, Issue 6Page: 819-821KeywordsCardiac care unitNurses Issue Published: 1 December 1976 PDF downloadLoading ...