Which hospital is NOT listed as a STEMI hospital?

• A. Balboa Naval Hospital
• B. Palomar Escondido
• C. UCSD Hillcrest
• D. Scripps La Jolla

Answer: (A)

STEMI hospital designations exist to ensure patients with a heart attack receive rapid reperfusion by routing them to facilities equipped for immediate cath lab activation. In this protocol context, three of the listed hospitals are designated STEMI receiving centers, meaning they’re qualified to provide prompt reperfusion therapy. The Balboa Naval Hospital is not included in the STEMI hospital roster for this region, so it is not listed as a STEMI hospital. When a patient presents with STEMI symptoms, you should transport to the nearest designated STEMI center to minimize time to treatment, unless local protocols or medical control direct otherwise.