Document Type
DNP Project
Department
School of Nursing
Date of Degree
Spring 2020
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Primary Advisor
Joyce Pulcini, PhD, PNP- BC, FAAN; Asefeh Faraz, PhD, APRN, FNP- BC
Keywords
emergency department, provider in triage, triage
Abstract
Background: This project implemented a Provider in Triage (PIT) system in a small emergency department (ED) in Washington State. The employment of a PIT to decrease patient waiting time and improve ED flow was supported by a literature review. A needs assessment was conducted, which indicated potential benefit from a PIT system, particularly because several ED metrics are worse than national average.
Aims/Objectives: This project aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a PIT system by employing ED Advanced Practice Clinicians (APCs). The objectives consist of evaluating the impact of a PIT system on the percentage of patients who leave without a provider examination (LWBS), the length of time from ED patient arrival to provider examination (DTP), discharge (DTD), and/or admission (DTA).
Methods: The APC worked as PIT when the ED was full, with four patients waiting. Metrics including LWBS, DTP, DTD, and DTA were evaluated with SPSS 25. The control group involved patients from one year prior to the implementation of the PIT system. Control variables were considered using regression.
Results: Chi square analysis revealed that a PIT system had no impact on LWBS. Independent t tests found that PIT had no significant impact on DTD or DTA but was associated with a longer DTP. IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROVIDER IN TRIAGE 6
Conclusions: This DNP project did not lead to critical positive findings. However, confounding factors, including provider variation, nurse staffing, and census, could have influenced the significance of the results. A larger study with a control group matched for daily census is suggested for further research.
Copyright Notice
©2020 Rachel Parmer. All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Parmer MPH, MSN, FNP- BC, R. (2020). Implementation of a Provider in Triage Program in a Level III Emergency Department. , (). Retrieved from https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/son_dnp/60
