title: Algorithm-directed triage in a pediatric acute care facility: a retrospective study.
abstract: Algorithm-directed triage by nonprofessionals was used to safely assign care urgency categories to 22,934 walk-in patients under 13 years of age during 1978. Of all patients, 16.7% were categorized as having urgent or potentially urgent problems at triage. Of those patients admitted, 79.12% received these urgency classifications. Additionally, 72.13% of all patients received an acute minor illness care urgency classification. Of patients admitted, 20.87% had an acute minor illness classification. A total of 11.16% of all patients received a routine or non-urgent classification. No patients admitted had been triaged to this non-urgent classification. As determined by review of records of 91 patients admitted from the acute care facility, the system safely identifies both high- and low-risk walk-in populations.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D002965:Classification; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission; D010372:Pediatrics; D012306:Risk; D013781:Texas; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration*