Introducing a chest pain pathway in the emergency department to improve quality of care for patients with possible cardiac chest pain.

ABSTRACT: Chest pain is a common reason for patients to present to an emergency department (ED). It is crucial not to miss presentations of the potentially life-threatening acute coronary syndrome (ACS), although often these people present with a non-diagnostic ECG. This makes recognition of a history consistent with ACS very important. We noted inconsistencies in assessment, with many admissions to cardiology beds who did not prove to have ACS and some erroneous discharges who subsequently did have an ACS. We introduced a history based risk tool as part of a chest pain pathway into the ED for use by medical staff assessing patients presenting with chest pain. The intervention involved a nurse from cardiology engaging with clerical, nursing, and medical staff in the ED to ensure success of this qual

SUBMITTER: Byrne J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4645935 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature