Two Types of Prehospital Systems Interventions that Triage Low-Acuity Patients to Alternative Sites of Care

摘要

Objectives This study retrospectively compared alternatives for navigating low-acuity patients in two emergency medical services systems. System A involved a response to every 9-1-1 request with an evaluate, treat, and refer process, in which paramedics decided whether patients could be treated on-scene and referred to a primary care provider or urgent care center. System B used a telephone triage and referral process, in which callers of low severity were diverted from 9-1-1 to call centers where nurses provided advice and/or a referral to a primary care provider/urgent care center. We hypothesized that systems A and B would differ in terms of the percentage of patients following referral instructions and the percentage of patients who were satisfied with their care.