
%0 Journal Article
%A Edmonds, Elizabeth 
%A Kelly, Anne-Maree 
%T Managing potentially ischaemic chestpain and coronary care beds effectively
%J Australian Health Review
%D 1997/12/01
%V 20
%N 4
%P 40-48
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/AH970040
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AH970040 
%X One of the most common reasons why patients attend emergency departments inAustralia is chest pain that is potentially due to coronary artery disease (myocardialinfarction, unstable or stable angina pectoris). A number of models for theinvestigation and treatment of these patients have been employed over the last fiveto ten years. This paper describes the evolution of a model for managing ischaemicchest pain that aims to avoid potentially preventable deaths from undiagnosedmyocardial infarction, to admit to hospital patients who could benefit from inpatienttreatment, to admit to a coronary care unit patients at significant risk ofcomplications, and to avoid inter-hospital transfer of patients. Introduction of themodel has led to an increase in the appropriate hospital admission of patients withischaemic chest pain, a marked reduction in inter-hospital transfers, and betterutilisation of coronary care beds. Unmonitored, general ward management of low riskpatients with clinical unstable angina has not resulted in compromised outcomes. 
