Aust Crit Care
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Observational Study
Identifying 'at-risk' critically ill patients who present to the emergency department and require intensive care unit admission: A retrospective observational cohort study.
Emergency department (ED) triage is the process of prioritising patients by medical urgency. Delays in intensive care unit (ICU) admission can adversely affect patients. ⋯ Patients triaged as ATS 3 presenting on weekends or after hours, and those with infectious, gastrointestinal, or neurological conditions warrant careful attention as these factors were associated with higher odds of ICU admission. Ongoing staff education regarding triage and signs of deterioration are important to prevent avoidable outcomes.