The Impact of Implementing a Provider in Triage in the Emergency Department on Overall Length of Stay and Frequency of Patients Leaving Without Being Seen

Abstract

Hospital emergency departments are experiencing overcrowding across the United States, which causes adverse effects such as increased patients leaving without being seen, increased length of stay, and prolonged wait times. A local emergency department (ED) is experiencing an increase in the numbers of left without being seen (LWBS) patients. The effects can be detrimental for the patient, and organization. As a departmental intervention and quality improvement study, a provider was in triage for a trial period of five days during the highest volume hours. The purpose of this project is to determine if the impact of implementing a provider in triage (PIT) reduces the frequency of LWBS patients, and/or decreases the length of stay (LOS) for discharged patients. The data obtained shows a positive impact of the PIT on LWBS rates as it decreased from 11.6% to 3.5%, decreased LOS for discharged patients of 57.8 minutes, and decreases lost revenue by $109,480.