Hospital Triage: An Under-Appreciated Risk?
August 17, 2016
Triage is an essential part of any busy emergency department (ED), but one that is often taken for granted. While triage is not designed to determine the cause of the patient’s symptoms, it prioritizes the patient’s need to be seen by a provider. EDs often assume (possibly erroneously) that triage assessments are being performed correctly…Read More
Common Barriers Interfering with Triage Practice Change
May 9, 2016
After investing in a triage education program, some emergency department (ED) managers and educators become frustrated due to gaps in the application of that education. Implementing practice change does not always come easily, especially for those who have operated according to certain protocols for several years. The following are some of the common barriers that…Read More
Shifting from Triage Audit to Critical Thinking Opportunity
February 22, 2016
As leaders in the healthcare industry, we spend a great deal of time and resources analyzing patient outcomes and looking for areas of improvement. In triage, this typically translates to a leadership audit of triage decisions and a report back to staff on areas of improvement. It’s important to periodically evaluate your audit process for…Read More
Managing Patient Volume in ED
November 12, 2014
Are you prepared for surges in your ED patient volumes? As we head into the peak of flu season, many facilities are already feeling the effects of increased volumes, such as: Longer waiting times Staff exposed to more airborne illnesses resulting in increased sick time A shift in perceptions of care resulting in lower patient…Read More
