title: An electrocardiogram technician improves in-hospital first medical contact-to-electrocardiogram times: a cluster randomized controlled interventional trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the case of chest pain, the current guidelines require electrocardiogram (ECG) recording and patient assessment within 10 minutes upon arrival in the emergency department.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the effect of an ECG technician (ECG-T) on in-hospital first medical contact-to-ECG times (iFMC-to-ECG) investigated in a cluster randomized, controlled trial. Allocation of intervention was concealed. Staff satisfaction and feasibility was defined as a secondary outcome. Delays between ECG and the availability of an emergency physician and the assessment of ECG were additionally evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 163 (44 clusters) and 191 (47 clusters) patients were allocated to control and intervention, respectively. Twenty-seven (17%) of 163 patients in the control group vs 110 (58%) of 191 patients in the intervention group received ECG registration within 10 minutes (risk ratio, 3.40 [2.24-5.15]; P < .001). The iFMC-to-ECG time was 23 (95% confidence interval [CI], 20-27) minutes for the control group vs 9 (95% CI, 8-11) minutes for the intervention group (P < .001). Nursing staff judged the feasibility of intervention with a median of 1 (interquartile range [IQR], 1-1 (on a scale of 1 [best] to 5 [worst]), perceived workload alleviation with a median of 1 (IQR, 1-1), and improvement of quality of care with a median of 1 (IQR, 1-2). The ECG-to-EP time was 78 (95% CI, 64-92) seconds, and diagnosis was made within 17 (95% CI, 16-18) seconds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delays of iFMC-to-ECG can be effectively addressed by implementation of an ECG-T. The service of an ECG-T is feasible and improves staff satisfaction. Both ECG-to-EP time and ECG assessment constitute no relevant delay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerguertel 18-20/6D, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Tulder
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weiser
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heidinger
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herkner
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Havel
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D000078329:Workforce