Heart Attack

Heart attack, also called acute myocardial infarction (AMI),  is a priority target for quality measurement due to its prevalence. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and is the primary disease category for hospital admissions.

When a heart attack occurs, prompt use of aspirin and other specific treatments can reduce damage to the heart and increase a patient’s likelihood of survival.

The following quality indicators examine the initial care of heart attack patients and indicate whether patients are discharged with medications known to be beneficial following a heart attack.