Fast Track to Urgent Care: Designing an In-Office Cardiac Direct Access Unit

This session presents a case study of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's Cardiac Direct Access Unit. This inpatient urgent care model provides patients with non-life-threatening symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath, the option to bypass the ED to see an attending cardiovascular physician, avoiding ED wait times and expenses. Cardiologists and advanced practice nurses see patients in exam rooms; observation rooms for monitoring, testing and treating; and a diuresis room for heart failure with same-day outpatient IV therapy. State-of-the-art telehealth abilities also allow cardiologists to consult with colleagues from other urgent care centers, EDs and physician practices on treatment options and referrals.