Portland Fire and Rescue (PF&R) has direct influence in cardiac resuscitation rates, which is critical to patients surviving to reach full cardiac care in hospitals. Cardiac events are common life-threatening emergencies for community members. Tracking the cardiac resuscitation rate helps PF&R gauge its effectiveness in training and response speed to these events. The rate is also shared with and monitored by Multnomah County Emergency Medical Services.

Response times affect survival rates, and a high level of lower acuity medical calls and service calls lead to higher response times throughout the system. PF&R has tried to direct other types of responders to these types of calls to maintain the best response times possible for critical calls. Portlanders that are underserved and underrepresented in the healthcare system often have no options for preventative care and rely on calling 9-1-1. PF&R developed the Community Health Access Team (CHAT) to try and direct these patients into available resources and better long-term outcomes.

PF&R partners with Multnomah County Emergency Medical Services to help monitor performance, modernize care, and develop joint best practices with other providers.

These figures are based off medical reports completed by PF&R, which includes all procedures performed prior to transferring care to an ambulance. PF&R is not the only provider that responds to cardiac cases, and thus this metric may not be reflective of the complete potential survivability for someone who calls 9-1-1 and receives emergency response care and cardiac resuscitation within the Portland area. This metric is specific only to the outcomes of PF&R care.

More information can be found at PF&R's Emergency Medical Services web page.