PhD Defence Rudolf Theodoor Tolsma

Keywords: EMS, triage, chest pain, troponin 
 

"Prehospital management of patients suspected for non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome"

Chest pain is one of the most common reasons for an ambulance to rush to a patient. However, the vast majority of patients who receive emergency ambulance care do not have a heart attack. Currently, many of these patients are taken to the hospital as a precaution, only to be discharged hours later. This dissertation’s research shows that it is possible to assess the risk of heart issues already during ambulance care. A triage method is used that includes a blood test performed in the ambulance to detect potential heart damage. This helps ambulance personnel make informed decisions about whether a patient should be taken to the hospital. This approach prevents unnecessary hospital visits and shows promise for better coordination of care, allowing emergency departments to operate more efficiently by improving patient flow both within and from the emergency department.  

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