Decision Support Tool Reduces Low Probability Cardiology Referrals for Chest Pain from Primary Care: a Quality Improvement Initiative

Purpose: To decrease low probability cardiology referrals in patients ages 7-21 presenting with chest pain to three local pediatric practices from 16% to 5% by 1/31/2020. Background: When a patient presents with chest pain to the primary care pediatrician, the decision to refer can be challenging. Pediatricians need skills in identifying patients who may have underlying cardiac pathology to allay concerns of those who do not. In previous studies, primary pediatricians identified gaps in their education surrounding …