Reducing door-to-ECG time in the emergency department: a quality improvement report.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients presenting emergently with chest pain often experience delays in obtaining an ECG. Studies have found variability in care for patients with acute coronary syndrome, with many patients facing delays to receiving timely ECGs. Delays in acquisition are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Local problem

Prior to our intervention, median time to ECG in the emergency department (ED) was 16.7 min, with peak times reaching 20.7 min in January 2024, exceeding American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommending an ECG within 10 min of arrival. Contributing factors included workflow inefficiencies, inadequate staffing and process inconsistency.

Methods

A quality improvement initiative was implemented from February 2

SUBMITTER: Srivatsa S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12542574 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature