G Arendts1, S Elgafi. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, St George Hospital, Kogarah, NSW, Australia. glenn.arendts@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine which of three commonly used methods for notifying medical staff of the arrival of an emergent case to the triage area of an emergency department (ED) is optimal. METHODS: Prospective, randomised trial. Patients arriving with conditions rated as emergencies (triage category 2) were randomised to one of three notification arms: by microphone, by telephone, or by computer. The proportion of patients seen by a doctor within 10 minutes of arrival to the ED in each arm was compared. RESULTS: A total of 1000 patients were enrolled. The proportion seen within 10 minutes for patients announced by microphone was significantly greater than those announced by telephone or computer (67.0% v 63.2% v 57.3%, respectively; chi2 6.30, p = 0.04). No method achieved the benchmark proportion of 80% of patients seen within 10 minutes of arrival. CONCLUSIONS: A microphone announcement heard by overhead speakers should be incorporated with other strategies to improve the timeliness of medical assessment of emergent cases.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine which of three commonly used methods for notifying medical staff of the arrival of an emergent case to the triage area of an emergency department (ED) is optimal. METHODS: Prospective, randomised trial. Patients arriving with conditions rated as emergencies (triage category 2) were randomised to one of three notification arms: by microphone, by telephone, or by computer. The proportion of patients seen by a doctor within 10 minutes of arrival to the ED in each arm was compared. RESULTS: A total of 1000 patients were enrolled. The proportion seen within 10 minutes for patients announced by microphone was significantly greater than those announced by telephone or computer (67.0% v 63.2% v 57.3%, respectively; chi2 6.30, p = 0.04). No method achieved the benchmark proportion of 80% of patients seen within 10 minutes of arrival. CONCLUSIONS: A microphone announcement heard by overhead speakers should be incorporated with other strategies to improve the timeliness of medical assessment of emergent cases.
Authors: Daniel W Spaite; Fran Bartholomeaux; John Guisto; Elizabeth Lindberg; Becky Hull; Alicia Eyherabide; Sally Lanyon; Elizabeth A Criss; Terence D Valenzuela; Carol Conroy Journal: Ann Emerg Med Date: 2002-02 Impact factor: 5.721
Authors: Susan Lambe; Donna L Washington; Arlene Fink; Marianne Laouri; Honghu Liu; Jessica Scura Fosse; Robert H Brook; Steven M Asch Journal: Ann Emerg Med Date: 2003-01 Impact factor: 5.721