Action Alerts — Cardiovascular
Potential Cardiac Effects of Disaster
The American College of Cardiovascular Administrators (ACCA) and theAmerican Academy of Medical Administrators (AAMA)are extremely saddened
by the events earlier today, September 11, 2001. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their family members and to all Americans.
In times of significant disaster or tragedy, it is common to see a significant increase in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes triggered by the situation at hand. Regardless of how close to New York, Washington, DC, or Pittsburgh, PA a hospital may be, there are recoil effects of such situations and acute coronary syndromes are a primary result of events such as this.
Based upon this phenomenon, hospitals would be well advised to maintain a
guarded eye towards the potential for inceased presentations of coronary patients and have staff prepared to deal with this situation. Additionally, patients already hospitalized for cardiac reasons should be monitored closely to ensure that their situations do not escalate in acuity due to the stresses associated with this type of tragedy. Hospitals in the immediate area of New York, Washington, DC, or Pittsburgh, PA should follow instructions from the health care agencies in the area and follow hospital specific disaster plans.
The ACCA/AAMA praises all of those individuals and institutions presently engaged in efforts to treat the victims of the events of this morning.