A retrospective comparative study of patients with chest pain and intra-ward transfers.

This retrospective, comparative survey examined patients who had a discharge diagnosis of chest pain and were admitted to The St. George Hospital between July 1999 to June 2000. The aim was to identify the clinical wards/units to which patients were admitted and the number of intra-ward transfers' patients experienced during their hospitalisation. Patients admitted to the cardiology ward/units and outlying wards were compared to determine the number of intra-ward transfers and length of hospital stay. The study found that older patients were more likely to be transferred and that the number of intra-ward transfers impacted upon length of hospital stay.