INDIANAPOLIS, May 19, 2026 - When someone experiences a cardiac arrest, heart attack or stroke, fast, coordinated care can make the difference between life and death. Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital in the United States - and 90% of these are fatal.
The American Heart Association is launching a new effort to strengthen how emergency response systems communicate and coordinate care - bringing together local leaders in Indianapolis and 12 other cities to help improve outcomes for patients. Through this initiative, the Association will work with EMS agencies, hospitals and public health partners to examine how information is shared across the chain of survival and identify opportunities to improve coordination and reduce time to treatment.
"Effective communication across the chain of survival is essential to patient outcomes. This initiative brings national priorities into local action by working with EMS leaders to strengthen care delivery in communities," said Fred Pervine, a member of the American Heart Association's Indianapolis board of directors, who is also fire chief with the Indianapolis Airport Authority.
AHA News (American Heart Association) published a clinical update in Cardiology on 19 May 2026.
The item focuses on Harnessing technology to strengthen emergency response in Indianapolis.
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