A Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic (RACPC): Initial Australian Experience

Following ED assessment of acute chest pain as low risk-with direct ED referral for exercising testing followed by RACPC review-results in very low readmission rates at 48 hours and at 28 days. Moreover, these readmissions were almost always not of cardiovascular aetiology, and occurred despite relatively longer waiting periods for both EST (8 days) and between EST and RACPC review (11 days), than the prespecified 72 to 96 hours as defined by the clinic protocol. Further investigation into this model of care in Australia is suggested.