Pedriatric triage: an effective system to establish priorities in emergency departments

Abstract

From 2001, Colina SAPU has implemented a triage system. In Chile there are no studies to determine its effectiveness.

Objective: To determine the capacity of implementing a triage system.

Patients and Methods: descriptive study of 46,014 attentions to children aged 15 or younger between July 2002 and June 2003, subdivided into 3 priorities of decreasing severity (P1, P2 and P3). Waiting time, illness severity and efficiency of triage were defined, and waiting times and derivations done. The number of patients attended in Colina, follow up at their local hospital and those hospitalized were determined.

Results: Average waiting times were P1: 22 min, P2: 32 min, P3: 64 min; for derived patients 22 min and 39 min for non- derived patients. 75.5% of P1, 53.3% of P2 and 25.8% of P3 patients were attended within 30 minutes if derived 64% and 39% for non-derived patients respectively. Hospitalization occurred in 6,88% of P1, 2.47% of P2 and 0.6% of P3 patients.

Conclusion: The more severely ill patients were seen sooner using a triage system.