Implementation of a Clinical Pathway to Improve Outcomes in Emergency Department Patients With Right Ventricular Failure

Millions of Americans seek emergency care for acute shortness of breath, and many undergo computerized tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) testing that is negative for acute disease. Management of patients with persistent shortness of breath despite normal testing continues to pose a challenge for clinicians. Right ventricular (RV) failure is a common cause of dyspnea that brings patients to the emergency department (ED), however, it is often not considered in the differential diagnosis, remains unrecognized, or patients are not properly followed up once diagnosed. Delays in diagnosis and management of RV failure are associated with poor outcomes. The investigators propose a novel clinical pathway, which entails identifying and enrolling patients with RV failure in the ED, then referring them to a specialized cardiovascular clinic where they will receive a standardized evaluation and management plan. Our hypothesis is that management of RV failure, through this pathway, will improve patient outcomes when compared to standard care. The primary outcome will assess 1-year unscheduled healthcare visits.