Decreasing triage time: effects of implementing a step-wise ESI algorithm in an EHR.

Objectives: To determine if adapting a widely-used triage scale into a computerized algorithm in an electronic health record (EHR) shortens emergency department (ED) triage time.

Design: Before-and-after quasi-experimental study.

Setting: Urban, tertiary care hospital ED.

Participants: Consecutive adult patient visits between July 2011 and June 2013.

Intervention: A step-wise algorithm, based on the Emergency Severity Index (ESI-5) was programmed into the triage module of a commercial EHR.

Main Outcome Measures: Duration of triage (triage interval) for all patients and change in percentage of high acuity patients (ESI 1 and 2) completing triage within 15 min, 12 months before-and-after implementation of the algorithm. Multivariable analysis adjusted for confounders; interrupted time series demonstrated effects over time. Secondary outcomes examined quality metrics and patient flow.

Results: About 32 546 patient visits before and 33 032 after the intervention were included. Post-intervention patients were slightly older, census was higher and admission rate slightly increased. Median triage interval was 5.92 min (interquartile ranges, IQR 4.2-8.73) before and 2.8 min (IQR 1.88-4.23) after the intervention (P < 0.001). Adjusted mean triage interval decreased 3.4 min (95% CI: -3.6, -3.2). The proportion of high acuity patients completing triage within 15 min increased from 63.9% (95% CI 62.5, 65.2%) to 75.0% (95% CI 73.8, 76.1). Monthly time series demonstrated immediate and sustained improvement following the intervention. Return visits within 72 h and door-to-balloon time were unchanged. Total length of stay was similar.

Conclusion: The computerized triage scale improved speed of triage, allowing more high acuity patients to be seen within recommended timeframes, without notable impact on quality.