Impact of pre-hospital electrocardiograms on time to treatment and one year outcome in a rural regional ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction network.

Background: Pre-hospital electrocardiograms (ECGs) are believed to reduce time to reperfusion in ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) patients. Little is known of their impact on clinical outcomes in a rural setting. Geisinger regional STEMI network provides percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) care to over a 100-mile radius in rural central Pennsylvania.