National Heart Attack Alert Program position paper: Chest pain centers andprograms for the evaluation of acute cardiac ischemia

The National Heart Attack Alert Program (NHAAP), which is coordinated by th e National Heart, Lung, and Blood institute (NHLBI), promotes the early det ection and optimal treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction a nd other acute coronary ischemic syndromes. The NHAAP, having observed the development and growth of chest pain centers in emergency departments with special interest, created a task force to evaluate such centers and make re commendations pertaining to the management of patients with acute cardiac i schemia. This position paper offers recommendations to assist emergency phy sicians in EDs, including those with chest pain centers, in providing compr ehensive care for patients with acute cardiac ischemia.