You are on the scene of a 68-year-old male patient complaining of severe chest pain for the last 20 minutes.He has a previous history of myocardial infarction and states it feels "just like the last time." You have applied oxygen and assisted him in administering aspirin and nitroglycerin with no reduction in the chest pain.Your nearest facility is 5 minutes away,a Level III Trauma Center is 10 minutes away,and a hospital with cardiac catheterization capabilities is 20 minutes away.The patient is requesting to be transported to his cardiologist's hospital,which is 30 minutes away.Which hospital is the best destination?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's history of myocardial infarction and current presentation of severe chest pain indicate a high likelihood of cardiac event. The nearest hospital with cardiac catheterization capabilities would be the best choice as it allows for the quickest intervention and potential improvement in outcome for the patient. The patient's preference for his cardiologist's hospital can be considered, but in this situation, timely intervention is the priority. The trauma center may not be necessary at this time as the patient's condition is primarily cardiac-related.

You Are on the Scene of a 68-Year-Old Male Patient