The Emergency Severity Index (version 3) 5-Level Triage System Scores Predict ED Resource Consumption

The Emergency Severity Index (ESI) version 3 is a valid and reliable 5-level triage instrument that is gaining in popularity. A unique component of the ESI algorithm is prediction of resource consumption. Our objective was to validate the ESI version 3 triage algorithm in a clinical setting for the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of emergency nursing Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 22 - 29
Main Authors: Tanabe, Paula, Gimbel, Rick, Yarnold, Paul R, Adams, James G
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.02.2004
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Child, Preschool
Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data
Female
Health Care Rationing - methods
Health Care Surveys
Humans
Illinois
Infant
Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Admission - statistics & numerical data
Retrospective Studies
Trauma Severity Indices
Triage - methods
Illinois
ISSN:0099-1767, 1527-2966
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The Emergency Severity Index (ESI) version 3 is a valid and reliable 5-level triage instrument that is gaining in popularity. A unique component of the ESI algorithm is prediction of resource consumption. Our objective was to validate the ESI version 3 triage algorithm in a clinical setting for the following outcome measures: actual resource consumption and patient length of stay in the emergency department and hospital. We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study of 403 ED patients who presented to a large academic medical center. The following dependant variables were abstracted from the ED record: number of ED resources used and emergency department and hospital length of stay. The relationship between ESI level and each of the dependent variables was determined. Mean resource use decreased monotonically as a function of ESI level 1 (5), 2 (3.89), 3 (3.3), 4 (1.2) and 5 (0.2). The ED average length of stay (minutes) per ESI level was as follows: 1 (195), 2 (255), 3 (304), 4 (193), and 5 (98). ESI triage level did not predict hospital length of stay. The ESI algorithm accurately predicted ED resource intensity and gives administrators the opportunity to benchmark ED length of stay according to triage acuity level.
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ISSN:0099-1767
1527-2966
DOI:10.1016/j.jen.2003.11.004