This review covers the major recommendations to the 2000 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) Practice Guidelines. This review describes the evidence-based medicine that rationalizes the recommended pharmacotherapy for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non- STEMI (NSTEMI) ACS. To ensure conformity, an Ischemic Chest Pain Protocol (ICPP) order form was developed. The ICPP is like a menu that includes orders for all the recommended therapies in an easy-to-use checklist format. The ICPP has facilitated the implementation, acceptance, and understanding of the 2002 ACC/AHA ACS practice guidelines. Hence with improved conformity, it is hoped that the improved outcomes that were intended will result. A description of the ICPP and a mechanism for implementation is provided in this article.
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