Abstract Echocardiography is a key diagnostic tool for a range of cardiovascular conditions. Appropriate triage is critical in inpatient care, where both physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) contribute. This study examined the distribution of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) consults by provider type, clinical indication, and urgency classification (STAT vs. Routine). A retrospective review of 527 inpatient TTE consults over six months at a single center was performed. Variables included provider type, urgency level, and clinical indication. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used to assess associations between diagnosis and urgency. Statistical significance was set at p 0.05. Physicians managed 88.4% of consults; APPs handled 11.6%, mainly for lower acuity diagnoses such as heart failure and dyspnea. High acuity presentations like myocardial infarction, shock, and pulmonary embolism were primarily physician managed. Diagnoses significantly associated with STAT classification included infection (p = 0.007), chest pain (p = 0.015), and acute coronary syndrome (p = 0.023). Logistic regression identified dizziness (OR = 4.22, p = 0.017) and chest pain (OR = 3.83, p = 0.020) as predictors of STAT classification. Provider type was not significantly associated with urgency (p = 0.445). In this inpatient cohort, echocardiography consults were largely physician led, with APPs managing lower-acuity cases. Urgency classification was driven by clinical indication rather than provider type, supporting appropriate triage practices. Expanding APP roles in selected mid acuity cases, supported by training and protocols, may improve workflow, reduce physician burden, and enhance timely care. Standardized triage tools and guideline based decision support could further optimize diagnostic efficiency and resource use. This abstract is funded by: None
Torrestorres et al. (Fri,) studied this question.