Hospitals Waiting Too Long To Use Defribillators

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Controversy with Hospital Defibrillators

A recent study found that hospitals throughout the country are taking too long to restart stopped hearts after cardiac arrest.

Statistics show that about half a million patients suffer from cardiac arrest while staying in a U.S. hospital yearly.

Using a Defibrillator

In certain situations, a defibrillator can restart the heart by delivering an electrical shock to the body; however, this is only effective when applied instantly.

The American Heart Association recommends that hospitals use the defibrillator within two minutes after the patients go into cardiac arrest.

The study, led by Paul Chan, from the University of Michigan, found that in 30 percent of cardiac arrest cases, hospitals waited more than the suggested two minutes, which led to more deaths.

Study Investigates Cardiac Care

The study reportedly found that between 2000 and 2005, only 70 percent of patients received a shock within two minutes of going into cardiac arrest.

Hospitals that had fewer than 250 beds allegedly had worse results than larger facilities.

The study also found that these hospitals were about 23 percent more likely to be late in shocking a black patient than a white one.

(Source: The Wall Street Journal)

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