Phone Triage?

[RNinOZ]

I work in a large metro ED - see approx 55K per year. Our ED operates with one triage nurse, who of course does all walk ins, all ambulance pts, lets visitors in, and takes triage calls.

Do any other departments take phone triage? We find it cumbersome and quite hard to bear, especially with 20+ in the waiting room, 4 ambo's lining up for service and someone on the phone who wants to know "how long is the wait, and should I come in because I've vomited once?"

If your triage nurse doesnt take the calls, who does? How many more times can I say " I can't give you medical advice over the phone???" Help!! =)

[mommatrauma, RN]

Our clerks screen all of our calls...They do the no medical advice over the phone schpeal...works out well....keeps the bothersome calls to a minimim..

[ED RN in BAMA]

We also do not give out medical advice over the phone. We give them the option of having the operator page their doctor, or tell them we will be glad to see them.

[pkapple]

jeez, everytime I call to give report on a transfer i get that famous message.......emergency-call911, ......no medical advice will be given....if you know your parties extension .........

no need to worry about telephone triage there!

At my rural hospital we listen patiently, advise 911 if it sounds ugly or just say we would be happy to see you for any emergency. We also quit giving out the current doctor in house---the pts either love em or hate em, and that doesn't make it an emergency!

[RNinOZ]

jeez I'd love that hold message!

[RNinOZ]

does your triage nurse take that call? Or any ole person who happens to pick up the phone. Our switch puts any medical advice calls directly through to triage.

My cracking triage call of the day was "what is the address of your hospital"

I was almost ready to take the phone receiver up to main reception and smack someone in the head with it.