Bobby Khan, MD, PhD Represents Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation on Panel
Sudden cardiac arrest accounts for approximately 350,000
deaths in the United States annually; while many of those affected have a
history of cardiac disease, countless others have no cardiac history and are
unaware of any risk factors. While
there are isolated efforts to reduce the incidence of and mortality from sudden
cardiac arrest, there are no formal, evidence-based guidelines or standards
that are uniformly recognized and employed. Realizing the potential for significant improvement in the
prevention and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest, The Joint Commission
convened a Stakeholder Panel in April 2009. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation participated in this
panel.
The panel recommended proceeding with development of both a
set of measures for inpatients and a monograph for community-based effective
practices, both with a focus of prevention and treatment of sudden cardiac
arrest, The Joint Commission has obtained funding via an unrestricted
educational grant from the Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, and Boston Scientific
corporations to develop both a set of performance measures and a monograph. The
funders have no role in the design and conduct of the project, or in the
collection, analysis, and interpretation of the information and results from this
work. The content of the measures
and monograph will be solely at the discretion of The Joint Commission.
The Technical Advisory Panel for this project met recently
and developed a framework encompassing both prevention and treatment of sudden
cardiac arrest, with a focus on care of cardiac arrest survivors and care for
those at risk for arrest. Within
that framework the panel identified several key interventions in the Emergency
Department and inpatient settings, for which measures could improve care. The Joint Commission issued a call for
measures; the submission window for measures is closed.
The panel also identified several key areas of
community-based practice for which effective practices, implementation
strategies, or programs in pre-hospital or post-discharge care, community
preparedness programs, or EMS-related topics would be of value to include in a
monograph of effective practices.
The Joint Commission issued a call for abstracts; the submission window
has closed. Draft measures submitted will be reviewed by the panel and
evaluated for further development and use.
Abstracts will be reviewed by the panel and those meeting
established criteria may be selected for submission of full papers;
notification will occur in late summer 2010.
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest project is expected to conclude in
February 2012.
Bobby Khan, MD, PhD, Chairman of the Board of Directors,
represents the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation as a member of the Technical
Advisory Panel.