title: Criteria of the German Society of Cardiology for the establishment of chest pain units: update 2014.
abstract: Since 2008, the German Cardiac Society (DGK) has been establishing a network of certified chest pain units (CPUs). The goal of CPUs was and is to carry out differential diagnostics of acute or newly occurring chest pain of undetermined origin in a rapid and goal-oriented manner and to take immediate therapeutic measures. The basis for the previous certification process was criteria that have been established and published by the task force on CPUs. These criteria regulate the spatial and technical requirements and determine diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in patients with chest pain. Furthermore, the requirements for the organization of CPUs and the training requirements for the staff of a CPU are defined. The certification process is carried out by the DGK; currently, 225 CPUs are certified and 139 CPUs have been recertified after running for a period of 3 years. The certification criteria have now been revised and updated according to new guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Katholisches Klinikum Koblenz Montabaur, Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Post
authors.affiliation: II. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie und internistische Intensivmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.affiliation: Klinik für KardiologieAngiologie und Pneumonologie, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giannitsis
authors.affiliation: Department für Kardiologie, Innere Medizin und Intensivmedizin, Vivantes-Klinikum Neukölln, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Darius
authors.affiliation: Klinikum III für Innere Medizin Uniklinik Köln, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baldus
authors.affiliation: Kerkhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Herzzentrum Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hambrecht
authors.affiliation: Kardiologie und allgemeine Innere Medizin, Solingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans Martin
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hofmeister
authors.affiliation: Klinik für KardiologieAngiologie und Pneumonologie, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katus
authors.affiliation: Cardiozentrum, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perings
authors.affiliation: Institut für Herzinfarktforschung, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Senges
authors.affiliation: II. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie und internistische Intensivmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany. tmuenzel@uni-mainz.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Münzel
mesh_terms: D002309:Cardiology / Q000592:standards*; D002568:Certification / Q000592:standards*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D012955:Societies, Medical
keywords: Certification; Chest pain; Requirements network guidelines