A central coronary care unit together with (1) a program of physiologic and closed circuit television monitoring and (2) an organized step-by-step plan of resuscitation in cardiac arrest due to coronary artery disease is described. The program is designed to prevent death from cardiac arrest in the hospitalized patient with acute coronary disease. The physiologic monitoring system includes a continuous oscilloscopic electrocardiogram and digital readout of arterial pressure or pulse volume simultaneously displayed. Other data also may be obtained. An audio-visual alarm is activated by ventricular fibrillation, cardiac asystole, predetermined changes in ventricular rate, or preselected blood pressure declines. All patients with acute coronary disease are assigned to the coronary care unit. The unit is under continuous supervision of specially trained personnel.