JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
-
An Army corpsman used physician-written triage algorithms to rate the urgency of the chief complaints of 2,000 pediatric outpatients. His ratings agreed with subsequent ratings by physicians in 84% of cases. ⋯ Use of a "nonprofessional" as a triage agent spares the pediatrician, pediatric nurse practitioner, and nurse for providing health care. With increasing use of acute care facilities by patients without appointments, physician-written algorithms allow triage agents who lack formal medical training to determine safely the need for care of patients.
-
High-cost laboratory tests, roentgenograms, medications, and supplies were the focus of a voluntary cost-containment effort initiated in a community hospital emergency department. The department microcomputer determined that 100 of 1,560 possible chargeable items were responsible for 90.9% of the total cost to patients. Emphasis on cost containment in general and specific emphasis on the 100 high-cost items resulted in a 10.2% reduction in laboratory and radiology charges and a 3.3% total savings to patients.