INCREASE TRIAGE ACCURACY

Improve Patient Outcomes by Correctly Assigning Acuity and Dispositions using either the ESI or CTAS

The Emergency Department has become the front door of U.S. hospitals, often accounting for nearly 50% of all admissions. Accurate and timely triage procedures are therefore the most critical patient safety concern across all hospital points of entry. Five-Level Emergency Department Triage Acuity is the first course in Triage First’s Pathway to Triage Competency Series. It is presented using a clinical teaching model that addresses the diverse population in hospital emergency departments and it is applicable to both the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) and the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS). Five-Level Emergency Department Triage Acuity emphasizes expertise in clinical, evidenced-based, best practice concepts that maximize the best outcome for patient populations.

Impact:
Increase Efficiency in ED Processes

• Improve patient flow & throughput
  
• Decrease extensive wait times
  
• Increase patient satisfaction

Reduce Patient Risk

• Eliminate incorrect acuity assignments
  
• Treat patients correctly and in a timely manner
  
• Reduce exposure to malpractice claims
  

Features:

• ESI and CTAS specific education
  
• Referenced by peer review journals and authoritative texts
  
• Interactive practice clinical scenarios
  
• Clinical presentations using actual charts
  
• Supporting resource documentation included
  
• Supplemented by the ED Triage Clinical Expertise course

This course is essential for:

• Emergency Department orientation and professional development programs
  

This course supports:

• Joint Commission 2008 Patient Safety Goal #16
  
• Emergency Nurses Association Position Statements and Principles with regard to emergency department triage
  
• American College of Surgeons’ recommendations for initial care of the trauma patient
  
• American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for initial assessment of the pediatric patient
  

Course Objectives
To increase the nurse’s level of competency in the effective implementation and use of the CTAS or ESI five-level triage acuity scale, through the delivery of specific clinical presentations over a broad range of patient populations with presenting symptoms. The conceptual elements are designed to aid in timely reassessments, and to address process issues.

Continuing Education Credit
Five-Level Emergency Department Triage Acuity (ESI)
Triage First, Inc. is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This series has been approved for 2.7 continuing education hours.

Five-Level Emergency Department Triage Acuity (CTAS)
Triage First, Inc. is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This course has been approved for 3.4 continuing education hours.

Subject Matter Experts
This course was created by a team of emergency department nurses in part, Rebecca S. McNair, RN,
CEN, Bunny Eubank, RN, BSN, BA, Deb Jeffries, RN, CEN