FAQs: Teletriage Program

The standard team triage system has an NP/PA stationed in the triage area that works closely with the triage nurse, doing a brief examination and history to get initial orders in and the patient workup started. Similarly, teletriage allows a clinician and the nurse to see patients, quickly and simultaneously, and get a jumpstart on their care, via a teletriage cart.

Yes. There is a small team of off-site teletriage clinicians, and in most cases, the clinicians will regularly cover the same hospitals to build relationships and rapport with their in-person counterparts.

Teletriage has the potential to double the amount of patients clinicians can see. With the improved workflow, the virtual clinicians can see 8-10 patients per hour without negatively impacting quality.

Absolutely. For the smaller census, teletriage allows clinicians to cover more than one hospital at a time, so even smaller hospitals can have a dedicated clinician in triage. EDs can also immediately request another clinician and get extra assistance during demand surges.

With better front-end resource deployment, virtual clinicians can quickly address patient concerns and boost metrics with reduced door-to-provider times and left-without-treatment rates. Teletriage model also creates a new avenue for reassessment, following up with patients after initial orders have been carried out before being moved back to an ED room.

Teletriage is most successful when the hospital or health organization has a fully integrated electronic medical records system, a supportive IT team, and a culture of open communication.