Open Access#12021
Association of STEMI regionalization of care with de facto NSTEMI regionalization
17 USC 105 interim-entered record; under temporary embargo. ; The regionalization of care for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) may unintentionally concentrate patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) into percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) capable hospitals. This could lead to benefits such as increased access to PCI-capable hospitals, but could cause harms such as crowding in some hospitals with decreased patient volume and revenue in others. We set out to assess whether STEMI regionalization programs concentrated patients with NSTEMI at STEMI-receiving hospitals. ; U.S. Government affiliation is unstated in article text.