BACKGROUND: The assessment of the regional network for @entity583 ( @entity583 ) is fundamental for quality assurance. Since 2011 all Italian Health Authorities, in addition to @entity580 ( @entity580 ), must provide a standardized information flow (ERD) about @entity341 ( @entity341 ) and emergency medical system (EMS) activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether data integration of ERD with @entity580 may allow the development of appropriate quality indicators. METHODS: @entity1 admitted to coronary care units (CCU) for @entity583 between January 1 to December 31, 2013, were identified from the regional @entity580 database. All data were linked to those of the regional ERD database. Four quality indicators were defined: 1) rates of EMS activation, 2) rates of EMS direct transfer to the catheterization laboratory (Cath-lab), 3) transfer rates from a Spoke to a Hub hospital with angioplasty facilities, and 4) median time spent in @entity341 . RESULTS: In 2013, 2793 @entity1 with @entity583 were admitted to the CCU. Of these, 1684 @entity1 (60%) activated EMS and were transported to Spoke or Hub hospitals; 955 (57%) entered directly in CCU/Cath-lab; 677 were transferred directly to a Hub hospital @entity341 without being admitted to a Spoke hospital. The median @entity341 time in Hub hospital was 47 min (IQR 24-136) and in Spoke hospital 53 min (IQR 30-131). CONCLUSIONS: The integration among administrative data banks (i.e., @entity580 with ERD) allowed the assessment of the regional @entity583 network and the identification of potentially useful quality indicators. Their easy availability should enable comparisons with local, national and international standards, and may favor quality improvement.

[Quality indicators for the assessment of @entity583 ( XXXX ) networks. How @entity580 could be integrated with Emergency medical services data: the Emilia-Romagna @entity583 network experience].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity583 :: ('MESH:D009203', 'Disease') :: ['ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction', 'STEMI'] @entity341 :: ('MESH:D004630', 'Disease') :: ['emergency department', 'ED'] @entity580 :: ('MESH:D003428', 'Disease') :: ['hospital discharge records', 'HDR']
@entity583 :: (MESH:D009203,Disease) :: ['STEMI']
