The Atlantic C-PORT (Cardiovascular Patient Outcomes Research Team) Elective Angioplasty Study investigates the safety and efficacy of performing angioplasty in hospitals without cardiac surgery teams compared to hospitals with cardiac surgery available in the case of an emergency that develops during the angioplasty.  This study is conducted in several states, including Maryland, because the hospitals need waivers from the appropriate state health department to be able to perform angioplasty.  Patients seen at a participating community hospital are randomly allocated via an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) to either stay at that hospital for their angioplasty or be transferred to a tertiary medical center where cardiac surgery is available. The study design is a non-inferiority study with a projected sample size of more than 18,000 patients. Recruitment will be completed at the end of March 2011.

MMRI served as the Randomization and Statistical Analysis Center until March 31, 2010.  Staff at JHU handle the data processing through their own system.  As of April 1, 2010 the Randomization and Statistical Analysis moved to C-TASC.