This study was undertaken in three Spanish provinces (Salamanca, Segovia, Valladolid), covering a population of 995,137 residents. This study involved six advance life support (ALS) units, thirty-eight basic life support (BLS) units and four hospitals, all with an Acute Cardiac Care Unit (UCCA) and two with a 24/7 cardiac intervention room; therefore, in case of an unexpected requirement for emergency transfer to the hemodynamics unit, priority was given to the emergency relocation to one of these specialized centers. All facilities were managed by the Public Health System (SACYL).
Citizens request emergency medical support by calling the 1-1-2 phone number and an operator collects the geolocation and affiliation data. Subsequently, a coordinating physician conducts a brief guided consultation and assigns the most appropriate assistance option. The BLS teams are made up of two Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), and the ALS teams include two EMT, an Emergency Registered Nurse (ERN) and a physician. These teams provide basic or advanced life support based on pre-established protocols and clinical practice guidelines, either on-scene or en route.