
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Edmonds, Elizabeth 
A1  - Kelly, Anne-Maree 
T1  - Managing potentially ischaemic chestpain and coronary care beds effectively
JF  - Australian Health Review
JO  - Aust. Health Review
Y1  - 1997
VL  - 20
IS  - 4
SP  - 40
EP  - 48
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/AH970040 
N2  - 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. 
ER  -

