[Heart package shortens duration of diagnostic period for patients with ischaemic heart disease]

Accelerated diagnostic evaluation of patients referred on suspicion of ischaemic heart disease was introduced at Vejle Hospital in 2007. This article describes the diagnostic algorithm used and the course of the 270 patients who were referred to the clinic. A total of 20% of the patients were found to have no need for further testing at the first examination, 32% were referred to coronary angiography, 33% to coronary CT angiography, 7% to myocardial perfusion imaging and 8% to exercise testing. 88% of patients achieved a diagnosis within 21 days from the first clinical examination.