The Role of Primary Health Care in the Timely Treatment and Hospitalization of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Evidence from Georgia

Introduction: Family physicians play a critical role in managing and urgently referring patients with myocardial infarction. This study aims to examine the role of primary healthcare system related to timely treatment and, when necessary, hospitalization of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methodology: As part of this quantitative research, a survey was conducted with patients with acute myocardial infarction. Results: Patients primarily contact emergency medical services directly, bypassing their family doctor. Only 11% of patients consulted a family doctor during their illness, indicating that primary healthcare in Georgia is not sufficiently developed. Among patients who directly sought emergency services at symptom onset, 95.8% received emergency care within two hours. However, patients who consulted their family physician before hospitalization experienced shorter delays, allowing for quicker referral to emergency services compared to those who attempted self-treatment. Family doctors are more likely to recognize symptoms accurately and refer patients promptly when needed. In contrast, self-treatment—prevalent in our study (n=98, 22.5%)—is associated with longer delays (n=90, 66.7%) in accessing emergency care. Conclusion: Public health campaigns are recommended to encourage patients with chest pain to seek immediate emergency medical assistance. For minor discomfort, consulting a family doctor is more appropriate.