Myocardial Infarction: Unit Care or Home Care?

Editorials1 February 1978Myocardial Infarction: Unit Care or Home Care?OSLER L. PETERSON, M.D.OSLER L. PETERSON, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-88-2-259 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptAbout 1940, the late Maurice B. Strauss, then a junior faculty member of Harvard's Thorndike Laboratory, presented a graph showing the natural history of a new drug's use. His graph showed that, in 1940, a newly marketed drug was at first accepted slowly by clinicians. A period of accelerated growth soon resulting in wide use followed, and then excessive use. This excess, together with appearances of drug reactions, caused the initial enthusiasm to fade, bringing about a sharp decline. This was followed in turn by reassessment of the drug, which, Strauss felt, resulted in more judicious use.Since Strauss formulated...References1. BUNKERBARNESMOSTELLER JBF (eds.): Costs, Risks, and Benefits of Surgery. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1977 Google Scholar2. MIAO L: Gastric freezing, in Costs, Risks, and Benefits of Surgery, edited by BUNKER JP, BARNES BA, MOSTELLER F. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1977, pp. 198-211 Google Scholar3. MCWHIRTER R: Treatment of cancer of the breast by simple mastectomy and reontgenotherapy. Arch Surg 59:830-842, 1949 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. KAAEJOHANSEN SH: Simple mastectomy plus post operative irradiation by the method of McWhirter for mammary carcinoma. Ann Surg 170:895-899, 1969 CrossrefGoogle Scholar5. ATKINSHAYWARDKLUGMANWAYTE HHDA: Treatment of breast cancer: Report of a clinical trial. Br Med J 2:423-429, 1972 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. MCPHERSONFOX FM: Treatment of breast cancer, in Costs, Risks, and Benefits of Surgery, edited by BUNKER JP, BARNES BA, MOSTELLER F. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1977, pp. 308-322 Google Scholar7. NEUHAUSER D: Elective herniorrhaphy versus truss in the elderly, in Cost, Risks, and Benefits of Surgery, edited by BUNKER JP, BARNES BA, MOSTELLER F. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1977, pp. 323-339 Google Scholar8. DAY H: An intensive coronary care area. Dis Chest 44:423-427, 1963 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. HOFVENDAHL S: Influence of treatment in a CCU on prognonis in acute myocardial infarction. Acta Med Scand Suppl 519:1-78, 1971 Google Scholar10. CHRISTENSENIVERSONSKOUBY IKA: Benefits obtained by the introduction of a coronary-care unit. Acta Med Scand 189:285-291, 1971 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. HILLHOLDSTOCKHAMPTON JGJ: Comparison of mortality of patients with heart attacks admitted to a CCU and an ordinary medical ward. Br Med J 2:81-83, 1977 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. MATHERMORGANPEARSONREADSHAWSTEEDTHORNELAWRENCERILEY HDNKDGMCI: Myocardial infarction: a comparison between home and hospital care for patients. Br Med J 1:925-929, 1976 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. BLOOMPETERSON BO: End results, cost and productivity of coronary care units. N Engl J Med 288:72-78, 1973 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. MARTINDONALDSONLONDONPETERSONCOLTON SMCOT: Inputs into coronary care during 30 years. A cost effectiveness study. Ann Intern Med 81:289-293, 1974 LinkGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byCosts, Risks and Benefits of Surgery: A milestone in the development of health services researchBegging the questionTemporal Trends and Factors Associated With Pulmonary Artery Catheterization in Patients With Acute Myocardial InfarctionPrognostic value of the emergency department for in-hospital complications of acute myocardial infarctionReducing unnecessary coronary care unit admissionsThe emergency department ECG and immediately life-threatening complications in initially uncomplicated suspected myocardial ischemiaUse of the Initial Electrocardiogram to Predict In-Hospital Complications of Acute Myocardial InfarctionClinical Lessons from Literature and LegendDie Hospitalisation auf der HerzstationIatrogenesis: Just what the doctor orderedA Marxian interpretation of the growth and development of coronary care technology.Effect of coronary care on myocardial infarct mortality.Anticoagulants and Myocardial Infarction The Problems of Pooling, Drowning, and FloatingLEE GOLDMAN, M.D., ALVAN R. FEINSTEIN, M.D.Technology in Medicine 1 February 1978Volume 88, Issue 2Page: 259-261KeywordsDrugsMyocardial infarctionResearch laboratories ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 February 1978 PDF downloadLoading ...