Can a course modify the quality of triage in ER?

Abstract

All international Societies of Emergency Medicine have developed and promote courses on triage methods and guidelines, given their fundamental role in improving initial evaluation of patients in Emergency Department settings. However, as far as we know, few studies analyse the effect of triage courses on the allocation of priority codes. Since 2001, the Intra-Hospital Triage Guidelines have been implemented in Imola, where they are disseminated and illustrated in two-day courses. In this study, we analysed the effect of a two-day triage course on the quality of priority code allocation to patients evaluated at our ER. The Triage Guidelines course appears to improve two of the quality indicators analysed: observance of documentation standards and compliance with Triage Guidelines.