TY - JOUR
T1 - The Emergency Severity Index (version 3) 5-level triage system scores predict ED resource consumption
AU - Tanabe, Paula
AU - Gimbel, Rick
AU - Yarnold, Paul R.
AU - Adams, James G
PY - 2004/1/1
Y1 - 2004/1/1
N2 - Objectives: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: The ESI algorithm accurately predicted ED resource intensity and gives administrators the opportunity to benchmark ED length of stay according to triage acuity level.
AB - Objectives: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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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U2 - 10.1016/j.jen.2003.11.004
DO - 10.1016/j.jen.2003.11.004
M3 - Article
C2 - 14765078
AN - SCOPUS:1342267540
VL - 30
SP - 22
EP - 29
JO - Journal of Emergency Nursing
JF - Journal of Emergency Nursing
SN - 0099-1767
IS - 1
ER -