Ability to predict hospitalization and resource requirements: comparison of the 3M Triage Assistance system and the combined Spanish Triage System and Andorran Triage Model
Sánchez Bermejo R, Ramos Miranda N, Sánchez Paniagua AB, Barrios Vicente E, Fernández Centeno E, Díaz Chaves MA, Rodríguez Blanco C, López Sánchez-Elez M, Timón López R, Jiménez Luján E, Fernández Bordallo R, Marín Martín J, Alonso Sánchez P, Moreno Fernández-Vegue Y, Herrera García L, Alvarez Gregori JA, Juárez González R
Affiliation of the authors
Servicio de Urgencias, Hospital General Nuestra Señora del Prado, Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Spain.
Sánchez Bermejo R, Ramos Miranda N, Sánchez Paniagua AB, Barrios Vicente E, Fernández Centeno E, Díaz Chaves MA, et al. Ability to predict hospitalization and resource requirements: comparison of the 3M Triage Assistance system and the combined Spanish Triage System and Andorran Triage Model. Emergencias. 2016;28:21-5
Summary
Objective.
To determine the validity of 2 triage systems: the 3M Triage Assistance System (3M-TAS) and the combined Spanish Triage System and Andorran Triage Model (SET-MAT) for predicting hospitalization and use of emergency resources; and to estimate the level of agreement between them.
Methods.
Prospective observational study of consecutive cohorts classified with the studied triage systems in the emergency department (ED) of a secondary-level hospital between March 24 and April 30, 2014. Patients were classified blindly and simultaneously between 9 AM and 10 PM by a clinical nurse using the SET-MAT program and a researcher nurse using the 3M-TAS software. We collected patients’ demographic details and assigned triage level, laboratory and imaging tests ordered, specialist consultations requested in the ED, length of stay until discharge from the department, and destination on discharge. Outcome variables were hospitalization and use of at least 1 resource in the ED.
Results.
A total of 3379 emergencies were included. The conventionally weighted κ statistic for agreement between the 2 triage systems was 0.26, but the triage-weighted κ was 0.17. The 3M-TAS software was better able to predict hospitalization than the SET-MAT (P<.001); however, the 2 systems, predictions of resource usage were similar (P=.111).
Conclusions.
Agreement between the 3M-TAS and SET-MAT triage systems was poor, although they predicted similar use of resources in the ED. The 3M-TAS was better able to predict hospital admission than the SET-MAT.
