Triage of patients out of the emergency department: Three-year experience

摘要: Because of severe emergency department (ED) overcrowding, the authors initiated a program referring certain patients who were assessed as not needing care away from ED. A selected group presented to busy university ED refused treatment and triaged following medical screening examination performed by nurse. In this 3-year study 136,794 triage area in ED, which 21,069 (15%) referred elsewhere. Letters calls all referral clinics, eight local EDs, coroner's office identified no had been grossly mistriaged, only insignificant adverse outcomes could be identified. Additional follow-up on 3,740 individuals was telephone. Responses survey indicated that 42% persons received elsewhere same day, 37% within 2 days, 22% decided seek care. 1.6% sought at other hospital EDs for minor complaints. The concluded can selectively out without significant outcomes, may offer one approach problem overcrowding.