| Popis: |
Background: One of the new and effective methods of patient triage in the emergency department is the use of team triage including physician and nurse. Given that there is no conclusive evidence on the effectiveness of using team triage, therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of team triage method on emergency department performance indexes. The present study is a quasi-interventional study in which 200 patients referred to the emergency department in XXX hospital of XXX in 2020.Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to two groups (team triage, conventional triage) and were evaluated. The patient demographic characteristics questionnaire, five-level triage form of Emergency Severity Index and Press-Ganey satisfaction questionnaire were used to collect data and evaluation of patient satisfaction about waiting time. Results: The results showed that there is a complete agreement between both groups and emergency physician about patient triage (kappa=1). The mean score of waiting time for the first physician visit in team triage was 3.5 minutes, which was statistically significantly lower than the conventional triage about 8.79 minutes (P=0.001, t=-8.65). Also, the mean score of waiting time for receiving the first treatment in team triage was 7.8 minutes, which was statistically significantly lower than the conventional triage about 17.9 minutes (P=0.001, t=-9.36). Finally, the mean score of patients' satisfaction in team and conventional triage was 95.15 and 73.91, respectively, which was statistically significantly higher in team triage (P=0.001, t=5.06). Conclusions: The findings indicate that team triage method in comparison to conventional triage, decreasing the waiting time for receiving the first service, length of stay and improving of patient's satisfaction. Therefore, in order to improve the performance indicators of the emergency department, it is recommended that hospital managers use the team triage method, and hold training workshops to train skilled and efficient personnel. |
