Reducing short-stay hospital admissions by ruling out non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and estimating coronary artery disease likelihood on an emergency department observation ward

Chest pain is an important presentation in adult patients attending emergency departments (ED). The process of ruling out an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) conventionally requires a short in-patient stay. This places a significant burden on healthcare systems. Recent developments have encouraged us to explore the role of an ED observation ward in the management of these patients. We designed and implemented two proformas (‘flowformas’). The first provides integrated guidance and documentation for the management of chest pain in the ED. In patients determined to be at low risk of short-term adverse outcomes the ACS rule-out process is now completed on the ED observation ward rather than on the cardio-respiratory admission ward. The second proforma is used before discharge to determine the likelihood of underlying coronary artery disease (CAD), thereby allowing risk-based follow-up arrangements to be made. We collected data on all patients admitted to EDU on the NSTEMI rule-out pathway over a 12-month period. Between Feb 2012 and Feb 2013, 816 patients fulfilling the criteria were admitted on the pathway. 67 patients (8%) required admission due to ACS. 15 patients were admitted on two, and one on three occasions. In conclusion, it is possible to deliver ACS rule-out on an emergency observation ward. This reduces healthcare costs and shortens hospital stay.