The Soterion Rapid Triage System: evaluation of inter-rater reliability and validity
Journal
J Emerg Med
Publication Date
2006 May
Volume
30
Issue
4
Pages
461-9
Summary:
- HIT Description: decision support Ð clinical guidelines More info...
- Purpose of Study: determine the inter-rater reliability of the Soterion Rapid Triage System (SRTS) and its ability to successfully stratify patient acuity
- Years of study: 2003
- Study Design: other predictive analysis
- Outcomes: changes in efficiency and productivity
- Settings: 389-bed Level II Trauma Center and regional health care facility
- Intervention: A research nurse and a staff nurse simultaneously triaged patients using the SRTS and triage results were compared to assess interrater reliability. The validity of the system was tested through retrospective evaluation of patients triaged using the system between April and December 2003 and evaluating in-hospital admission rates, ED length of stay and resource consumption
- Description: stand-alone, web-based computer application that uses a SQL Server 200 database management system and that is based on a 5-level triage acuity scale. System logic is based on standardized patient observations, analysis of vital signs and use of chief complaint-based algorithms
- Interoperability: stand-alone application
- Barriers: only 8/70 nurses received the intended 4 hours of instruction with the remaining nurses receiving a 15-minute hands-on orientation to the system
- Changes in efficiency and productivity: The weighted kappa was 0.87 with 89% of patients triaged demonstrating exact agreement between the two nurses in triage level assigned. The system appear valid based its relationship to in-hospital admission rates, ED length-of-stay and resource consumption