Development and preliminary testing of an online software system to facilitate assessment of accuracy and consistency in applying the Australasian Triage Scale.

PURPOSE: The aim of this project was to design and evaluate an online software system to facilitate the assessment of triage decision accuracy and consistency in applying the Australasian Triage Scale. BACKGROUND: Triage is a critical component of emergency nursing practice, which affects patient access to emergency care. Accurate and consistent triage decisions are vital to ensuring patient safety, timely access to care and ED operation. Presently, there is no standard process to examine triage decisions, measure current performance and support department and individual performance development activities to improve patient safety and quality of emergency care. METHOD: An iterative design guided by a human factors development approach was used to develop a retrospective, focus-based analysis system to evaluate triage decision accuracy and consistency, and enable the exploration of service gaps and opportunities for practice change and professional development. RESULTS: Triage decision accuracy and consistency, including areas for improvement are detectable and quantifiable. Findings generated may aid in departmental performance and professional development of triage nurses. CONCLUSION: This is the first system developed to assess decision accuracy and consistency in applying the Australasian Triage Scale. This paper has described the development and preliminary testing of a user-centred design process and implementation of a web-based system to evaluate triage decision accuracy and consistency.

Emergency nursing workload and patient dependency in the ambulance bay: A prospective study.

AIM: The purpose of this prospective observational study was to characterise patients occupying the ambulance bay and to determine the ensuing nursing workload. BACKGROUND: The number of patients presenting to ED by ambulance is increasing. During periods of peak demand and access block in the ED, patients with ongoing care needs, requiring continual assessment and symptom management by emergency nurses can remain in the ambulance bay for extended periods of time. The profile of these patients and on the related nursing workload is not well known. METHODS: A prospective observational study design based upon a convenience sample of patients was conducted over a randomly selected four-week period. Nursing workload was assessing using the Jones Dependency Tool. A modified Work Observation Method By Activity Timing technique was used to estimate direct nursing care time. RESULTS: Of 4068 presentations to ED, 640 (16%) occupied the ambulance bay following triage, of which the majority (n=408; 64%) had arrived by ambulance. Of those occupying the ambulance bay 205 (32%) were evaluated using the JDT. The majority of patients had potentially life-threatening symptoms (ATS 3, n=424; 66%), were moderately dependent (n=134; 65%), and consumed approximately 152.1h of direct nursing care time. A large proportion of direct nursing care time was spent on patient reassessment (60.4h) and pain management (29.6h). Patients occupying the ambulance bay had an average ED length of stay of 5.6h (4.6h), of which 1.8h (SD 1.8h) was spent delayed in the ambulance bay. CONCLUSION: Early detailed assessment and symptom management of patients occupying the ambulance bay is extensively undertaken by emergency nurses. The frequency and number of patients off-loaded into non-clinical areas is not currently monitored or reported upon. This study has demonstrated that patients managed in the ambulance bay consume large amounts of nursing resources, commonly require acute level care and hospital admission.