Virtual Museum EMS History

In 1971, several pharmaceutical companies joined together to form a non-profit organization called the Advanced Coronary Treatment or ACT Foundation. Jim Page was soon hired as its first Director. The organizational goal was to promote the national development of mobile coronary care unit (MCCU) programs which had already been demonstrated at Saint Vincents Hospital in New York City, the Columbus "Heart Mobile" project and other programs in Los Angeles and Seattle. The ACT Foundation then formed The National Committee for Emergency Coronary Care whose members included that of Eugene Nagel from Miami, James Warren from Columbus (Ohio), Leonard Cobb from Seattle and William Grace from New York City. The first effort of this group was to produce the film, A Life on the Line  which featured the early MCCU programs in Columbus, Seattle and Los Angeles. The 16 mm film was made availabe free on loan to educational facilities, community groups,  governments and others.  In 1972, the film received a "Golden Eagle" award and remained popular for a number of following years and promoting positive support for advanced life support programs throughout the country.