Baptist Heart Services Opens Cardiac Observation Unit in ER

Jackson, Miss. - March 10, 2003-- Baptist Heart Services has opened a new Cardiac Observation Unit (COU) in Baptist Medical Center's Emergency Department in Jackson, Miss. It is solely designated for patients experiencing chest pain. The COU has seven private rooms, heart monitoring equipment and 24 hours a day access seven days a week.

To qualify for a COU admission, a patient must first be evaluated in the ER, and a thorough cardiac work-up is started. If the first set of cardiac enzymes and first EKG are negative, then the ER physician may opt to admit the patient to COU for further evaluation. In the COU a second set of cardiac enzymes and EKG is obtained to determine if the patient might need further diagnostic testing such as a treadmill test or nuclear cardiac scan. If a patient's status becomes acute, meaning enzymes and EKG become positive for a heart attack, then that patient will be admitted, and a cardiologist would be consulted.

According to Vice President of Clinical and Ambulatory Services Steve Jackson, the COU allows Baptist's ER physicians to observe these patients for 24 hours without a hospital admission. "If a hospital stay is necessary, admission to the hospital is 'fast-tracked'."

The idea for Baptist to add the COU evolved and was developed on recommendations by Baptist's cardiologist and ER physicians. The latest scientific findings by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association are used as the basis for protocol treatment patterns. Jackson stated that this process provided Baptist with the opportunity to develop a new path of care for patients with chest pain.

"The development of this unit resulted in a team effort from various service areas of Baptist including the nursing and emergency departments. A team of cardiologists, emergency medicine physicians, clinical staff, cardiac rehab and the pharmacy at Baptist all came together with a plan to enhance patient flow through the ER and minimize unnecessary hospital admissions," Jackson added.

The COU opened February 3, 2003, and as of March 10, Baptist has had 51 admissions to the COU with an average length of stay 17 hours. Out of the 51 patients only five "ruled-in" for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) which required an admission to the hospital. The other patients were evaluated and were determined not to have an acute problem and then sent home with instructions to follow-up with their primary physician.

"Patient feedback is very positive. We are seeing patients more readily diagnosed with shorter lengths of stay. These patients seem relieved not to have an unnecessary hospital admission that could be stressful and costly to them," Jackson said.

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