[Patients classification according the intensity of care in an Emergency Department].

. Patients classification according the intensity of care in an Emergency Department.

INTRODUCTION: The increasing number of Emergency Department (ED) admittances coupled with the limited availability of hospital beds requires a patients classification according their intensity of care. Among the available classification systems the Tri-Co (Corridor triage) system, could fit ED patients and was therefore progressively adapted and tested to be used in the ED.

AIM: To assess the correct allocation of patients according to the intensity of care.

METHODS: Eight versions of the Tri-Co were progressively modified and tested. The Final Modified Tri-Co system was used in 111 randomly selected index days, in different time slots, on all adult patients admitted to ED from May to November 2017 and allocated according to the traditional system (1008 observations).

RESULTS: The vast majority of patients (88%) was placed in a section adequate to their intensity of care; 8% in a sector with higher and 4% with lower intensity of care compared to their needs. The comparison between the allocation based on clinical assessment and Tri-Co scores highlighted the reliability of the Tri-Co. The alpha Crombach of the modified IDA scale was 0.724.

CONCLUSIONS: The Modified Tri-Co system allows the early classification of patients and their assignment to the adequate level of care.