Do you have EPIC as your EMR?
If so EPIC has a Nurse Triage module that incorporates the Decision Making tools with protocols already developed.
If not, there are other vendors (we used to use LVM – they were great support).
Both of these use the Schmitt-Thompson Nurse Triage Guidelines that are industry standard for telephone triage.
Clinical staff still need to have the Strong Clinical Knowledge/Assessment Skills and Critical Thinking Skills for safe practice.
Virginia R. Byrnes ("Ginny"), MSN, RNC
Clinical Supervisor, Nursing Health Link
Mary Washington Healthcare
2300 Fall Hill Avenue, Suite 511-C
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Phone: 540-741-2208
Fax: 540-741-2583
Email:Virginia.Byrnes@mwhc.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 3/19/2023 11:03:00 PM
From: Ignacio Donez
Subject: RE: Triage
Triage is a critical and the application of proper protocols essential to the appropriate disposition of any patient in need. The first item to consider is 'who' is doing the triage? 'What' resources are available? Do they have access to physician's/APRN's etc? As a former ER/Trauma nurse with several years of ER/Triage experience, the ESI categorization was always at the front of my assessments, when considering if we were able to provide care in an ambulatory setting. Given that not all personnel will have ER experience, it is paramount to select the appropriate triage tools (books if that is what you are using). There are several software programs that are designed to follow algorithms to determine the appropriate disposition for patients. These of course come at a cost, so experience, the proper resource(s) and a well defined process and guide for staff to follow are the key to ensure proper triage and mitigating risk for litigation to your agency. The AAACN has a course that could help you train and ensure proper protocols and guidelines are followed/developed...Telephone Triage Course | American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (aaacn.org) check it out. I hope this helps. We have developed a competency validation and use a common reference, however, I am looking into having all my triage staff complete this course.
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Ignacio Donez
Director
Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation
Corp Christi TX
(361)813-7065
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2023 09:37
From: Bonnie Hooper
Subject: Triage
My organization is having some discussion around Triage training and protocols.
We have bought general, pediatric, and ob triage standard books for all 9 sites.
We have documentation workflows, but we do not have a great standardized flow chart other than we say utilize the resources we gave you or when in doubt have a provider pop in.
I am curious to see what other organizations do.
I am wanting to make what we do safer and better for our patient population who don't always want to take that trip to the ER due to cost yet sometimes they really need to...
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Bonnie Hooper, RN, BSNClinic Training Specialist
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers