• Tina Roche, Glenn Gardner, and Peter Lewis.
• Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia; Stanthorpe Health Services, Emergency Department, Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia.
• Aust J Rural Health. 2014 Oct 1; 22 (5): 229-34.

ObjectiveTo identify the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who present to Australian rural emergency departments (EDs) with chest pain.DesignRetrospective, observational study.SettingRural EDs in Queensland, Australia.ParticipantsThree hundred thirty-seven consecutive adult patients with undifferentiated chest pain who presented between 1 September 2013 and 30 November 2013.Main Outcome MeasuresService indicators, discharge diagnoses and disposition.ResultsPresentations for undifferentiated chest pain represented 3.5% of all patient presentations during the sampling period. The mean age of patients was 48 years and 54% were male. Overall, 92% of patients left the ED within the 4-hour NEAT target. The majority of presentations were related to cardiac concerns (39%), followed by non-cardiac chest pain (17%), musculoskeletal (15%) and respiratory (10%) conditions. More than half of these patients were discharged at the completion of the ED service (52.8%), 40.6% were admitted, 3.3% left at own risk, 2.4% did not wait and less than 1% of patients required transfer to another hospital directly from the ED.ConclusionsThis study has provided information on the characteristics and processes of care for patients presenting to Australian rural EDs with undifferentiated chest pain that will inform service planning and further research to evaluate the effectiveness of care for these patients.© 2014 National Rural Health Alliance Inc.

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