Vital-Sign “Trigger” System at Emergency Department Triage Improves Time to Care

Implementation of a trigger system significantly shortened time to first intervention from 58 to 26 minutes but did not change time to disposition.

Researchers evaluated the effect of implementing a triage vital-sign “trigger” system on time to evaluation and treatment of adult patients at a single academic emergency department in Boston. After the system was implemented, when a patient met trigger criteria, the triage nurse announced “trigger arriving to room x” on overhead page, and medical staff (physicians, nurses, and technicians) were expected to report to the room immediately. In a retrospective chart review of 2165 patients who presented before and 2212 patients who presented after implementation, investigators identified 71 and 79 patients, respectively, who met at least one of the vital-sign triggers at triage: heart rate <40 or >130 beats per minute, respiratory rate <8 or >…

Reviewing Author

Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardSecurisyn

Editorial boardsThe Merck Manuals (Home and Physician Editions)

Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardSecurisyn

Editorial boardsThe Merck Manuals (Home and Physician Editions)