Triage in a public outpatient sexual health clinic.
BACKGROUND
The increasing prevalence of sexually transmissible infections in Australia, coupled with a NSW Health Department requirement to target services to those most in need, has led many services to investigate patient triage as a way of better using scarce resources. In October 1997, a Triage Nurse position was trialled that aimed to facilitate the optimal flow of patients through the Sydney Sexual Health Centre (SSHC) clinic in an efficient and patient-focussed manner. A pre and post implementation time-flow study was conducted to analyse the effect. A staff survey was also completed to ascertain staff acceptance of the Nurse Triage system.


METHODS
A time-flow data survey tool was developed and placed in the medical record of every person attending the SSHC in one month in 1997 and again in 1999. The staff survey was an 11-item likert scale questionnaire administered to all centre staff. Data were analysed and average visit and waiting times were generated.


RESULTS
When comparing 1997 with 1999 data, the main results of note were that the length of consultation had been stable or decreased, the average wait time had remained stable or decreased and the wait time in the medical and nursing unbooked clinic had decreased. The average wait time for the unbooked clinic had decreased from approximately 24 minutes in 1997 to approximately 12 minutes in 1999.


CONCLUSIONS
Since the introduction of Nurse Triage, the average overall waiting times for those who attend without an appointment has halved and the wait to see a doctor and a nurse has decreased. The majority of staff felt that the triage process had improved patient flow.
Knight
Vickie C
VC
Sydney Sexual Health Centre, NSW, Australia. vickie.knight@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
McNulty
Anna
A
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales; D018579:Patient Selection; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D017748:Time Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data