Improved follow-up care after chest pain assessment in the emergency department

Many people who visit emergency departments in New Zealand with chest pain are tested for heart attacks using a blood test called troponin. Fortunately, most are told they are not having a heart attack “then and there” and are sent home—but some of those sent home are still at high risk of future heart problems. This project aims to use the opportunity of the emergency department visit to: - identify which patients are truly at higher risk, even when their troponin test looks "normal" - provide intensified follow-up care for those at higher risk, and avoid unnecessary investigations for low-risk patients - make sure all patients get fair and consistent care, regardless of their background or where they live. The goal is to improve outcomes by developing new tools and guidelines to help doctors decide who needs more follow-up and treatment—even when troponin tests don’t show a clear immediate problem.