Health Management for Older Adults III - Early Evaluation of Patients with Chest Pain -- The Word

< i > Early Evaluation of Patients with Chest Pain -- The Word

A recent publication by Zalenski, et. al. (published in the American Journal of Cardiology, Vol. 81, pages 1305-1309, entitled A National Survey of Emergency Department Chest Pain Centers in the United States) concluded that "Medical Societies and decision makers concerned with cardiovascular health should withhold their endorsement of chest pain centers pending scientific evidence for their effectiveness."

Most hospitals in the United States (78%) do not have facilities dedicated solely to evaluation of chest pain and as a result most physicians tend to admit many of their patients to the hospital for subsequent evaluation.

In general there is nothing wrong with that way of doing things but the number of admissions to hospitals can be kept to a minimum if certain principles are adhered to when patients present to us with chest discomfort.