Tele-triage
What is tele-triage?
Tele-triage is the use of technology to supplement or replace elements of the traditional triage process and determine the patient’s condition and level of care needed.
Some examples of tele-triage include:
- Connecting patients at home with a provider to determine if they need to come to the emergency department
- Providing an app or web-based tool for patients to input their symptoms and receive guidance on if they need additional treatment
- Using a kiosk or video interaction with providers to assess patients upon entering the emergency department
How does tele-triage improve healthcare?
Tele-triage improves patient care by making it easier to assess a patient’s risk level and need for emergency attention. This ensures patients can receive care from the appropriate specialist and begin treatment quickly.
There are many benefits of tele-triage, such as:
- Reducing overcrowding in the emergency departments
- Providing quick care to low-risk patients or those with low-risk medical conditions
- Reducing wait times by processing patients more quickly
- Helping the emergency department treat more patients
Tele-triage can be especially helpful for people living in facilities like nursing homes and homeless shelters, or those who receive home health care, as it provides a direct link to the emergency department. Not only does tele-triage help patients get help sooner, but it can also prevent patients from coming to the emergency department if it is not needed, reducing wait time and placing less strain on healthcare workers and facility resources.