An innovative new cardiac pathway team has been established for patients entering Heartlands Hospital with chest pains or an acute heart problem.

The new team is ensuring patients with chest pains or acute heart problems are seen quickly and efficiently, reducing the likelihood of inappropriate admissions, minimizing length of stay and reducing the chance of re-admission.

The new system is already helping achieve national targets, with the Hospital recording 100 per cent in January on its call to device and door to device targets.

Jo Dennis, lead nurse for the cardiac pathway team, said: “An experienced nurse practitioner from the team will identify patients that need specialist cardiac care or intervention, directing them to low, intermediate or high risk areas for care and treatment. The team will also monitor and review the patient’s progress during their hospital stay, helping to ease the flow of patients across the Hospital site.

“This approach is helping reduce the number of assessments a patient potentially has to undergo. It speeds up decision-making and treatment, while improving patient safety and quality of care.”