Implementation of accelerated troponin testing in the emergency department for chest pain

Chest pain is one of the leading complaints for patients in the emergency department (ED) that requires a thorough evaluation. This often results in extended lengths of stay, excessive use of unnecessary resources, and over crowding in the ED. The implementation of an accelerated diagnostic protocol, such as the HEART pathway, with the use of accelerated troponin testing will help to address these issues. Adult patients with chest pain will have their HEART score calculated and a low risk score between 0-3 will determine their eligibility to participate in the research project. Two sets of serial troponins will be tested with 3 hours between each test. A negative trend in troponins will make patients eligible for early discharge. Patients will be contacted 30 days from discharge to assess for any risks of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). The results of enrolled patients will be inputted into a spreadsheet, which will then be analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS), version 23.0. Successful results of the project will contribute to economic and cost benefits by decreasing the unnecessary use of resources, and by improving wait times in the ED through a decreased length of stay. It will also impact healthcare quality by providing a rapid, safe, and effective tool in the evaluation of patients with chest pain.DNPIncludes bibliographical reference