Emergency Department Attendance after Telephone Triage: A Population-Based Data Linkage Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate compliance with telephone helpline advice to attend an emergency department (ED) and the acuity of patients who presented to ED following a call.

Data sources/collection methods

In New South Wales (NSW), Australia, 2009-2012, all (1.04 million) calls to a telephone triage service, ED presentations, hospital admissions and death registrations, linked using probabilistic data linkage.

Study design

Population-based, observational cohort study measuring ED presentations within 24 hours of a call in patients (1) with dispositions to attend ED (compliance) and (2) low-urgency dispositions (self-referral), triage categories on ED presentation.

Principal findings

A total of 66.5 percent of patients were compliant with dispositions to attend an

SUBMITTER: Gibson A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5867179 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature