Efficient selection and assessment of patients in the acute phase is becoming a pre-condition of high quality care and patient safety. A large amount of resources and costs can be saved by ensuring that the patient is taken to the right treatment centre and that the clinical pathway is efficient.
The use of IT and telecommunications provides significant benefits in the acute phase for the whole clinical pathway from ambulance to hospital. This does not only apply to heart and stroke patients but also to trauma patients. Economic restrictions in combination with the increased possibility of providing good treatment to ever larger patient groups is leading to new and increased efforts to make the healthcare process more efficient.
Treatment of patients with cardiovascular symptoms is naturally in focus. Efficient interventions in the prehospital phase is another area of focus, economising with limited resources for an expanding healthcare service.