Overview
This pre-post study will evaluate the implementation of a cardiovascular telehealth platform, which will connect experts from the Wake Forest University Health Sciences (WFUHS) tertiary care center with Wilkes County Emergency Medical Services (WC-EMS) system, Wilkes Medical Center Emergency Department (ED), and The Wilkes County Health Department Public Health Community Clinic (PHCC) to improve cardiovascular care in this rural community.
Description
This program aims to improve cardiovascular care for patients in Wilkes County by implementing a cardiovascular telehealth program designed to; a) assist WC- EMS paramedics with the early risk stratification (electrocardiogram (EKG) interpretation, vital signs, and risk scores), treatment, and transportation destination decisions in patients with acute chest pain or dyspnea, b) support Wilkes Medical Center (WMC) Emergency Department (ED) providers (physicians and advanced practice clinicians) in the evaluation, management, and disposition of patients with acute cardiovascular symptoms, and c) provide consultative expertise to the Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC) for patients seen following an EMS or ED encounter for cardiovascular symptoms.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- age > 18 years at time of index encounter
- Cardiovascular symptoms (chest discomfort or dyspnea consistent with possible ACS) as indicated by the treating provider
Exclusion Criteria:
- Age <18
- Traumatic chest pain
- Dyspnea that is clearly from a non-cardiac etiology
- Patients with hemodynamic instability SBP < 90 mmHg, HR>160 or <40 bpm
- Patients requiring intubation/mechanical ventilation