[AVBC 2025] Improve Door to ECG (DTE) Time in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Emergency Department, Triage
Care Process & Redesign
Appropriate & Value-based Care Conference
National Healthcare Group
6 November 2025
To improve the percentage of DTE time among patients who required an ECG to be done within 15 mins in ED Triage from 24% to. Strategies to optimize post-consultation ECGs by moving the ECG machine and creating a dedicated area for ECG procedures.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 06 November 2025
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Productivity, Time Saving, Cost Saving, Access To Care, Waiting Time
About this Content
Aims
To improve the percentage of DTE time among patients who required an ECG to be done within 15 mins in ED Triage from 24% to 80% in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Emergency Department over 6 months.
Background
Current DTE time of 33 mins is 3 times that of international AHA/ACC recommended guidelines. Although 80% of TTSHs Door-To-Balloon for STEMI is within 90 mins (average 68.9 mins), there is room for improvement.
Methods
Review ECG criteria at triage and select criteria for prioritization of ECGs at triage. Reduce total number of front-loading tasks.
Results
Total cost saving is 41,272 SGD per year. Reduction of ECGs done overall among the patients who came to ED after the 1st and 2nd intervention, ranging from 15-25 per day.
Conclusion
Strategies to optimize post-consultation ECGs by moving the ECG machine and creating a dedicated area for ECG procedures.
Lessons Learnt
Problems encountered include non-compliance with criteria, such as performing ECGs that do not meet the required guidelines and forgetting to place orders by doctors after the initial consultation.
Keywords
ECG, Emergency Department, DTE time, cost saving, time saving
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National Healthcare Group |
Organization(s) Involved | Tan Tock Seng Hospital |
Platform(s) | Appropriate & Value-based Care Conference |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Medical |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Emergency Medicine |
Project Lead(s) | Lai Yin Wen |
Project Member(s) | Melany Besa Cartagena |
Connect with this contributor!
Lai Yin Wen - yin_wen_lai1@ttsh.com.sg