Keeping the rhythm of life vibrant and strong
Chest Pain Centre Team
Queen Mary Hospital
"The Chest Pain Centre is much more than just an operating theatre; it is a regional coordinated system of treatment that requires a high level of collaboration," the Team explains. The centre emphasises seamless intra- and inter-departmental collaboration – internally enhancing synergy among Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department, Cardiology, Radiology and other hospital departments; while strengthening connections with the Fire Services Department and other medical units. All are dedicated to the vital mission of improving survival rates for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
In the early stages of preparation, the Team's greatest challenge was dismantling departmental silos and building consensus. "We invested immense effort in communication and training to ensure our colleagues understand that establishing a chest pain centre and streamlining treatment protocols would greatly benefit patients." The Team also actively promoted the centre's services within the hospital and the wider community.
In addition to medical staff, security guards and supporting staff are included and trained to familiar with the guidelines, so as to achieve all-hands-on-deck approach. "It was a very hot day when a construction worker at a site near Queen Mary Hospital suddenly experienced discomfort in his chest. Recalling a poster he had seen about the Chest Pain Centre, he immediately went to the hospital for help. Our security guard directed him to the ‘Green Channel'." The worker was sent to A&E Department swiftly after symptom onset, achieving a 50-minute door to reperfusion time and surpassing the requirement of national accreditation standard. This showcases the accomplishment of educating patients to seek medical assistance timely when symptom appears and the power of seamless teamwork. Since the opening in November 2024, over 6,000 patients have received timely treatment through the ‘Green Channel'.
To save every possible second in life-and-death situations, the Team has developed the express registration system ‘SmartID'. Patients need only present their identity cards for swift registration, their personal information and electronic electrocardiogram readings will then be synchronised to a real-time monitoring portal, keeping medical staff informed of patients' latest condition. Furthermore, the Team is developing an artificial intelligence diagnostic system to predict and identify high-risk cases.
As the Chest Pain Centre will soon relocate to the hospital's new block, the Team is planning an enhanced overall workflow. With the addition of more cardiac catheterisation laboratories and beds, the Team will remain committed to racing against time to protect every heartbeat.
