Back to resultsTriage Liaison Physician - Evaluation of a Novel Approach to Address Emergency Department Overcrowding
Primary Purpose
Acute Illness
Status
Completed
Phase
Phase 4
Locations
Canada
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Triage Liaison Physician
Sponsored by
About this trial
This is an interventional health services research trial for Acute Illness focused on measuring ED Overcrowding, Length of stay, Emergency triage, triage
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Only adult patients (> 17 years of age) presenting to the University of Alberta Hospital Emergency Department (UAH ED), during the study interval will be included in the evaluation.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Direct admits/Pediatric patients.
Sites / Locations
- University of Alberta Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm Type
No Intervention
Arm Label
1
Arm Description
No triage liaison physician
Outcomes
Primary Outcome Measures
Median patient length of stay
Secondary Outcome Measures
Left without being seen
ambulance turnaround times
satisfaction (physicians and nurses)
TLP activity
Full Information
NCT ID
NCT00435890
First Posted
February 15, 2007
Last Updated
September 11, 2008
Sponsor
University of Alberta
1. Study Identification
Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT00435890
Brief Title
Triage Liaison Physician - Evaluation of a Novel Approach to Address Emergency Department Overcrowding
Official Title
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Liaison Physician at the Triage Desk to Reduce Emergency Department Overcrowding and Improve Patient Flow.
Study Type
Interventional
2. Study Status
Record Verification Date
September 2008
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
December 2005 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
February 2006 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
June 2006 (Actual)
3. Sponsor/Collaborators
Name of the Sponsor
University of Alberta
4. Oversight
Data Monitoring Committee
No
5. Study Description
Brief Summary
This randomized controlled trial will introduce a triage liaison physician (TLP) into the University of Alberta Hospital Emergency Department (ED) and assess the influence on patients who leave without being seen, ED length of stay, and other ED Overcrowding outcomes.
Detailed Description
ED Overcrowding is a significant cause of delayed care, patient dissatisfaction, and poor outcomes in North American EDs. This intervention has not been widely studied; however, it represents an opportunity for improving patient flows in EDs.
6. Conditions and Keywords
Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Acute Illness
Keywords
ED Overcrowding, Length of stay, Emergency triage, triage
7. Study Design
Primary Purpose
Health Services Research
Study Phase
Phase 4
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
5718 (Actual)
8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions
Arm Title
1
Arm Type
No Intervention
Arm Description
No triage liaison physician
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Triage Liaison Physician
Intervention Description
triage liaison physician stationed with nurses at the triage desk of the Emergency Department.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Median patient length of stay
Time Frame
while in the Emergency Department
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Left without being seen
Time Frame
while in the Emergency Department
Title
ambulance turnaround times
Time Frame
while in the Emergency Department
Title
satisfaction (physicians and nurses)
Time Frame
following their Emergency Department shift
Title
TLP activity
Time Frame
while in the Emergency Department
10. Eligibility
Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
17 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Only adult patients (> 17 years of age) presenting to the University of Alberta Hospital Emergency Department (UAH ED), during the study interval will be included in the evaluation.
Exclusion Criteria:
Direct admits/Pediatric patients.
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Brian H Rowe, MD
Organizational Affiliation
University of Alberta
Official's Role
Study Director
Facility Information:
Facility Name
University of Alberta Hospital
City
Edmonton
State/Province
Alberta
ZIP/Postal Code
T6G 2B7
Country
Canada
12. IPD Sharing Statement
Citations:
PubMed Identifier
17656607
Citation
Holroyd BR, Bullard MJ, Latoszek K, Gordon D, Allen S, Tam S, Blitz S, Yoon P, Rowe BH. Impact of a triage liaison physician on emergency department overcrowding and throughput: a randomized controlled trial. Acad Emerg Med. 2007 Aug;14(8):702-8. doi: 10.1197/j.aem.2007.04.018.
Results Reference
background
Learn more about this trial
Triage Liaison Physician - Evaluation of a Novel Approach to Address Emergency Department Overcrowding
We'll reach out to this number within 24 hrs