Webinar resource

This 1 hour and 21 minute webinar presented by Primary Health Tasmania is on the assessment, investigation and referral pathways of chest pain in general practice.

This session provides an overview of the assessment and management of chest pain in general practice, focusing on risk-based assessment, appropriate investigations and interpretation of contemporary cardiac tests. It also explores referral and rapid access pathways to support timely specialist input and highlight opportunities to identify and address cardiovascular risk factors during assessment to reduce future events.

Learning outcomes:

1. Use a structured, risk-based approach to assess chest pain in general practice, distinguishing patients who require urgent emergency referral from those suitable for outpatient assessment or reassurance.
2. Select appropriate initial investigations for patients presenting with chest pain, including ECGs, troponin testing and non-invasive cardiac investigations, based on clinical presentation and pre-test probability.
3. Explain the role, strengths and limitations of contemporary cardiac investigations, including CT coronary angiography, functional stress testing and echocardiography, and interpret results in the primary care context.
4. Utilise local chest pain and rapid access referral pathways, as well as alternative direct referral options for functional testing or cardiac imaging, to streamline care and ensure timely specialist input.
5. Recognise the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients presenting with chest pain, and identify opportunities during assessment to address modifiable risk and reduce future cardiovascular events.