Do Patients with Chest Pain Benefit from Installing Triage System in Emergency Department?

Introduction: Chest pain, which can be cardiac or non-cardiac and either benign or life-threatening, needs appropriate diagnosis and treatment in emergency department (ED).

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare delivery time of primary care for patients with chest pain before and after applying triage system in ED.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed of thirty patients (group one) with chief complaint of chest pain who referred to ED between April and July 2008 (before installing triage system) and thirty-five patients (group two) with the same chief complaint who referred between August and September 2009 (after installing triage system). Time between patients' arrival and beginning of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions including cardiac monitoring, first physician visit time, intravenous line insertion, and electrocardiogram performance were compared between the two groups.

Results: Based on the findings, the mean age and sex ratio of studied patients in the two groups were not significantly different (p>0.05). Door to ECG performance, Door to intravenous line insertion, and Door to cardiac monitoring were significantly shorter in post triage installing period than previously (p<0.001). Door to first visit by physician was not statistically different in the two study periods (p=0.421).

Conclusion: It is likely that patients with chest pain who referred to ED benefit from installing triage system in terms of performing some nursing care including ECG performance, starting cardiac monitoring, and IV insertion.