Hospitals Go After Heart Care Quality From New Angle

Hospitals have made big improvements in accelerating treatment for patients whose heart attacks occur outside their walls. Now, cardiology teams and other clinicians are turning their attention to improving care for those who experience a heart attack as inpatients. According to estimates, 10,000 people experience a heart attack while under treatment for another issue. Signs of heart trouble in such patients can be difficult to identify, but experts believe they can improve treatment by addressing avoidable delays, and early results from such efforts are promising. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)