Impact of a Teletriage program on left without being seen rates and cost

Objective: Emergency Departments (EDs) experience throughput constraints for various reasons, such as space, resources, staffing, and bed placement. These throughput constraints are known to increase the volume of patients who leave without being evaluated. TeleTriage is a method implemented shortly after the arrival of the patient to the ED, as a means to expedite evaluation of patients. The project aimed to implement a TeleTriage program and analyze any impact on Left Without Being Seen (LWBS) rates and cost.Methods: A TeleTriage program was developed within a large, nonprofit, academic health care delivery system. The program was piloted at several campuses and subsequently implemented at multiple sites within the health system. Data on LWBS rates were collected for patients evaluated by the TeleTriage process and those who were not. An analysis of staffing utilization and cost-savings was also performed.Results: The TeleTriage program resulted in an average LWBS rate of 0.12% post-implementation, versus 0.79% for patients who were not in the TeleTriage group. In addition, the staffing consolidation resulted in cost-savings.Conclusions: The use of a TeleTriage program results in decreased LWBS rates, as well as cost-savings.