The RAPIDx Prehospital Clinical Trial is a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)-supported initiative that aims to reimagine how chest pain and other possible heart-related symptoms are assessed and managed in the prehospital setting.
Typically, care for these symptoms begins in an ambulance and almost always ends in an emergency department. While this is appropriate for many patients, a large proportion are not experiencing a heart attack or other serious cardiac event. For these patients, timely assessment is still important, but an emergency department visit may not always be the most appropriate care pathway.
RAPIDx Prehospital is testing an innovative approach to identify those lower-risk patients. The trial will give SA Ambulance Service paramedics access to a rapid blood test at the scene. This point-of-care test detects a protein released into the bloodstream when the heart is under stress and is used alongside a structured clinical assessment. This is the same test that has long been used in emergency departments, which can now be delivered in the community. Together, these tools allow paramedics to better identify patients at low risk of a serious cardiac event while still in the community.
Improving care and patient experience
For eligible patients, this opens up a new care pathway. Instead of going to an emergency department, they may be referred to a hospital avoidance service for further assessment and follow-up testing — often with shorter wait times and a less overwhelming experience.
This approach aims to deliver care that is as safe as emergency department treatment, while improving patient experience and reducing unnecessary hospital visits. It may also help ease pressure on emergency departments, allowing them to focus on more urgent cases.
Led by Flinders University, RAPIDx Pre-hospital brings together partners across South Australia’s health system, including the CEIH, SA Ambulance Service, SA Urgent Care Hubs, Priority Care Centres, Health Translation SA, and industry.
Despite early challenges, including the withdrawal of the originally planned testing device from the global market, the team successfully adapted by partnering with an alternative provider to deliver the required technology.
With planning well advanced, the next major milestone is the commencement of patient recruitment, expected in late 2026. This phase will generate the evidence needed to redefine the care journey for these patients.