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Standardizing Echocardiography Workflow to Reduce Length of Stay After Uncomplicated STEMI
Christopher Warrington1, Andre Ghantous1, Joy Elwell2
1Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
Background:
Delayed transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) completion may prolong hospitalization after uncomplicated ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Project Rationale:
Hartford Hospital identified inconsistent, person-dependent prioritization of TTE, which could delay diagnostic finalization, discharge readiness, and patient throughput.
Project Summary:
A standardized electronic health record-supported communication workflow was implemented for eligible uncomplicated patients with STEMI. Preimplementation cases from November-December 2025 were compared with postimplementation cases from March-April 2026. Among 52 cases, mean TTE finalization decreased from 21.8 to 18.6 hours, length of stay decreased from 54.5 to 51.6 hours, and the order-to-finalization interval improved by 29.5%.
Take-Home Messages:
Standardized TTE communication improved diagnostic timeliness and was associated with shorter hospitalization. Reliable electronic health record-supported workflows may reduce process-dependent delays after uncomplicated STEMI.
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