ACS-24: Tailoring Post Discharge for Low-Risk Heart Attack Patients

Every year, over 2,100 Manitobans are hospitalized with a heart attack (ACS). While hospital care is excellent, many patients face challenges when transitioning home. For low-risk patients, research shows that early discharge (within 24–48 hours) can be safe - but only if it is paired with reliable education and follow-up support. Without this, patients often experience anxiety, confusion about medications, and unplanned emergency visits.

ACS-24 is the first phase of the Manitoba ACS Network’s Tailoring Post-Discharge (TPD) program. It tests whether low-risk ACS patients can be discharged earlier with either Rapid Response Nursing visits or a digital health tool (Remote Home Monitoring) that provides education modules, symptom tracking, and virtual cardiology follow-ups. Preliminary results show that early discharge was safe, unplanned ER visits dropped by nearly half, and patients reported high satisfaction with their care.

What’s Next

We expect the enrolment for ACS-24 to wrap up by the end of 2025 as we enter the data analysis phase. Building on ACS-24, our team is expanding TPD to include more patients and test digital health solutions in rural and remote settings. These next phases (TPD-EDUCATE and TPD-REACH) will build on the success of ACS-24 by improving education, monitoring, and equitable access to care across Manitoba.

How You Can Help

Your donation will support research staff, digital tools, and patient engagement that make early discharge safe and sustainable. By investing in ACS-24 and its next phases, you are helping to reduce unnecessary hospital stays, improve recovery, and ensure Manitobans get the right care at the right time, no matter where they live.