• Joanna R Richardson, George Braitberg, and Michael J Yeoh.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
• Emerg Med Australas. 2004 Feb 1; 16 (1): 41-6.

ObjectiveTo evaluate a dual doctor and nurse triage system at a tertiary referral hospital.MethodsData were compared between periods of multidisciplinary triage and periods of standard triage. Data comparison was also made between rostered multidisciplinary triage shifts and non-multidisciplinary triage shifts. Staff satisfaction with the process was assessed.ResultsThe percentage of patients seen within Australasian Triage Scale performance indicator thresholds increased from 75% to 81% in Category 2 patients (P = 0.12) and 56% to 78% in Category 3 patients (P < 0.0001). There was a reduction of 50% in the number of patients who left prior to being seen by a doctor (P = 0.024). Surveys showed high staff satisfaction with the process.ConclusionsWe feel that multidisciplinary triage performs a useful function in our department enabling us to reduce waiting times. The process is widely accepted amongst the staff and it ensures a senior doctor assesses most patients. It reduces the number of patients leaving prior to being seen by a doctor and it provides one way of getting around access block and a physically small department.

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