Split-Flow Triaging and Efficiency Within the Emergency Department
Disciplines
Other Nursing
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Background: Length of stay is an important variable within emergency departments in the United States. While it is important that patients are thoroughly evaluated during their visits, oftentimes long length of stay in the emergency department can be contributed to inefficiency within the emergency department. Inefficiency results in a decrease in patient satisfaction, poorer patient outcomes, and contributes to the overcrowding of the emergency department. Overcrowding in the emergency department poses a risk to the health of patients. The result of overcrowding can include unavailable beds for critical patients, overwhelming of clinical staff, and lack of overall resources available to patients.
Literature: To address inefficiency, several hospitals have begun utilizing a split-flow model of triaging before patients enter the emergency department. Typical triaging models utilize nursing staff and assistive personnel to assess and prioritize care for patients arriving at the emergency department. The split-flow model allows patients to be assessed by a provider in triage which in turn may speed up the process of ordering tests, performing simple procedures, and broadening the care a patient receives before being brought into the emergency department.
Methods: An electronic search of scholarly research will be performed utilizing platforms CINHL, ESCBOHost and PubMed. From there, a systematic review will be conducted of relevant articles.
Evaluation: Relevant articles will be analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the split-flow model as compared to the standard nursing triaging model. The success of the models are to be determined by length of stay, patient satisfaction, and patient outcomes.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Evah Wangungu
Split-Flow Triaging and Efficiency Within the Emergency Department
Background: Length of stay is an important variable within emergency departments in the United States. While it is important that patients are thoroughly evaluated during their visits, oftentimes long length of stay in the emergency department can be contributed to inefficiency within the emergency department. Inefficiency results in a decrease in patient satisfaction, poorer patient outcomes, and contributes to the overcrowding of the emergency department. Overcrowding in the emergency department poses a risk to the health of patients. The result of overcrowding can include unavailable beds for critical patients, overwhelming of clinical staff, and lack of overall resources available to patients.
Literature: To address inefficiency, several hospitals have begun utilizing a split-flow model of triaging before patients enter the emergency department. Typical triaging models utilize nursing staff and assistive personnel to assess and prioritize care for patients arriving at the emergency department. The split-flow model allows patients to be assessed by a provider in triage which in turn may speed up the process of ordering tests, performing simple procedures, and broadening the care a patient receives before being brought into the emergency department.
Methods: An electronic search of scholarly research will be performed utilizing platforms CINHL, ESCBOHost and PubMed. From there, a systematic review will be conducted of relevant articles.
Evaluation: Relevant articles will be analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the split-flow model as compared to the standard nursing triaging model. The success of the models are to be determined by length of stay, patient satisfaction, and patient outcomes.