There are few things more frightening than a heart problem. Anyone who experiences chest pain, rapid, irregular heartbeat, dizziness or other cardiac symptoms needs close and careful monitoring. They might need hospitalization; in some cases, however, they fare better with outpatient care.

That’s the idea behind Southeast Georgia Health System’s new Clinical Decision Unit (CDU), a short-stay outpatient unit within the Brunswick Campus Emergency Care Center (ECC). The CDU team ensures that patients seen in the ECC with specific diagnoses or reasons for visit, such as chest pain, congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke symptoms, or syncope (temporary loss of consciousness) receive timely, efficient care.

The CDU is open 24/7 and staffed by cardiologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and other providers. Working as a team, staff decide if a patient should be admitted to the hospital or sent home for an outpatient follow-up appointment.

“The CDU allows us to evaluate people and get them the level of care they need quickly,” says John F. Wiles, MD, hospitalist, Southeast Georgia Health System. “And it allows us to safely determine when people with non-life-threatening problems can leave the hospital quickly.”

What to Expect in the CDU
When a patient enters the ECC for heart symptoms or problems associated with a chronic heart condition, an ECC physician or the patient’s cardiologist may decide that a short CDU stay is the best approach. If so, the CDU staff will perform tests to see if the patient requires any urgent interventions. They monitor the patient’s vital signs and symptoms and may administer therapeutic interventions if needed. While resting in the CDU, patients receive their medication and, if their physician approves, a light meal. Patients generally stay in the CDU from six to 24 hours.

Pamela Jackson, RN, BSN, manager, Patient Care Services, sees several advantages to the CDU care model. “It allows closer monitoring of patients, and each patient receives streamlined, standardized care. Rapid testing protocols are in place so that when symptoms require immediate attention, the patient is prioritized. Having a CDU also frees up valuable space in the Emergency Care Center, which could reduce wait times.”

The CDU care model may also reduce health care costs for patients and hospitals. Patients requiring long-term care or further medical intervention are admitted to the hospital. While waiting for their room, they rest comfortably in a CDU bed as opposed to a gurney in the ECC. Some patients, Wiles explains, are better suited for outpatient care. “They are discharged with instructions for follow-up tests or a doctor’s appointment within 72 hours. The staff explain the next steps the patient needs to take and can help schedule the recommended follow-up appointments.”

According to Mitchell T. Jones, MD., medical director, Cardiology Services, “By establishing the CDU, the Health System took a major step toward better cardiology care. As our community and our over-65 population grow, we need to provide these services. It’s our duty as caregivers to provide safe, compassionate care and to constantly improve the care we provide.”

For more information about Southeast Georgia Health System, visit sghs.org.