Comparative analysis of emergency department treatment of patients with chest pain.

A vital function of the emergency physician is separating patients with chest pain who require intensive immediate treatment from those who require minimal care. The care of 701 patients presenting with chest pain in two Baltimore hospitals was evaluated using medical record data and follow-up questionnaires to discharged patients. Twenty per cent were admitted. There was a significant difference between the two hospitals in admission rates. Thirty-five per cent of the discharged patients felt no better two weeks after emergency department discharge. Plans for further research include a study to clarify the difference in admission rates and the characteristics of individuals who remained symptomatic at two weeks.