EKG is Key: A Quality Improvement Project to Decrease Door-to-EKG Time in a Rural Emergency Department

Author

Amanda SouthwellFollow

Date of Award

Summer 2024

Document Type

DNP Executive Summary

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Family Nurse Practitioner

Department

Nursing

Faculty Chair

Jessica Lockhart

Preceptor

Pallavi Sunkavalli

Abstract

Background: Electrocardiograms (EKGs) are the priority when evaluating patients with chest pain who present to the Emergency Department (ED). The American Heart Association and other governing bodies suggest a 10-minute door-to-EKG (DTE) time. The target facility displayed a delay in DTE times.

Purpose: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) project aimed to decrease the average DTE time for patients over 18 years old with chest pain who presented to the ED registration area.

Methods: The DNP project consisted of an EKG suite to perform EKGs near the ED registration/triage area. Registration and ED staff were educated on the new process, communication was streamlined from registration to an ED staff member, signage was placed at the registration desk for patients and at the ED desk for staff reference, and collaboration included the IT department to ensure optimal working performance of the EKG machines.

Results: After implementing an EKG suite, the average DTE time was 7.4 minutes, and 78.6 percent of patients received an EKG within the 10-minute goal. The previous year, the average DTE time was 16.04 minutes, and 49.6 percent of patients received an EKG within 10 minutes.

Conclusion: The QI project yielded a 54% decrease in the average DTE times, proving significant for patient outcomes.

Recommended Citation

Southwell, Amanda, "EKG is Key: A Quality Improvement Project to Decrease Door-to-EKG Time in a Rural Emergency Department" (2024). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 127.
https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/etds_nursing/127