Patient Satisfaction With Emergency Department EfficiencyMD at TriageNCT02703701
Role of Provider-at-Triage on ED Efficiency and Quality of Care
An observational study of Patient Satisfaction With Emergency Department Efficiency, run by University of Florida at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The United States spends over $8,000 per capita annually on health care and its health care system is more expensive than other developed countries. Even with high per capita costs and a high proportion of physician specialists, the US lags in health care performance from patients' perspectives. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 110 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Patient Satisfaction With Emergency Department Efficiency
- What is being tested?
- Physician at triage
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- How many people
- 439 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Oct 2015to Mar 2016
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 110 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Individuals receiving care from the Emergency Department between 10am-3pm on days a physician is (Monday-Wednesday) and is not (Thursday-Sunday) assigned to triage.
Who may be able to join
- Participants are eligible to participate in the study if they are:
- English speaking
- Without hemodynamic or respiratory compromise
- Do not have a nurse-assigned triage severity score of Emergency Severity Index 1 (most severe illness or injury score).
Who cannot join
- Participants will be excluded if they are:
- Unwilling or unable to sign an informed consent
- In police custody
- Too ill to participate in study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Provider-at-Triage on Emergency Department Efficiency, Information Delivery and Patient Satisfaction
The United States spends over $8,000 per capita annually on health care and its health care system is more expensive than other developed countries. Even with high per capita costs and a high proportion of physician specialists, the US lags in health care performance from patients' perspectives.
The hospital emergency department (ED) is often the portal of entry for patients seeking health care services and is therefore an ideal setting for initiatives to improve efficiency of care delivery and patient satisfaction. Reduction in wait times, enhanced information delivery and ED staff service quality all have a positive influence on patient perception of health care quality and satisfaction.
Prior studies have attempted to increase patient satisfaction by improving staff communication and courtesy, implementing a patient satisfaction team in triage, and delivering information to patients in a timely manner. Another strategy to increase the efficiency of ED operations is adding a physician to triage to perform brief medical screenings and initiate necessary patient testing and treatment. This contrasts to usual practice in which physicians evaluate patients only following registration and nurse assessment of illness or injury severity.
Read the detailed description
This study will assess the impact of early patient assessment by a physician at Emergency Department (ED) triage on patient perception of information delivery, overall patient satisfaction and ED efficiency. ED efficiency will be assessed by ED length of patient stay, ED left-without-being-seen and ED left during treatment rates.
Participants who decide to take part in this study, will be asked questions by research staff, who will document responses on a secure iPAD device. The survey will ask participants how they feel about their health condition, the emergency department wait, the care they received in the emergency department and how satisfied the participant was with the care received.
- Being tested
- Physician at triage, Usual Care
- Keywords
- Patient Satisfaction, Emergency Department efficiency
- Medical subject headings
- Patient Satisfaction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Physician at triageBehavioural
A physician embedded at triage
Usual CareOther
No physician at triage
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Usual Care | Group enrolled during normal emergency department operating procedures (without a physician present at triage). Receives: Other: Usual Care | |
| Physician at Triage | Group enrolled while a physician is present at triage. Receives: Behavioral: Physician at triage |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Patient Satisfaction
Patient Satisfaction Score- brief survey measured on a Likert Scale
- 1= Never
- 2= Sometimes
- 3= Usually
- 4= Always
- 5= Not applicable - I did not see a doctor today
Measured: 60 minutes after Emergency Department triage
Secondary outcomes (2)
Emergency Department efficiency
Impact of physician at triage on ED length of stay rates
Measured: 24 hours after ED triage in minutes
Left without being seen rate
Impact of physician at triage on left without being seen rate
Measured: 12 hours after ED triage in minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Mar 2016 (estimated)
- Study startOct 2015
- Primary completionMar 2016
- Study completionMar 2016
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Patient Satisfaction With Emergency Department EfficiencyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of FloridaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 439 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Florida
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Brandon Allen, MD, Principal investigator, Univeristy of Florida
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02703701
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB201500586
- Acronym
- MD at Triage
- Status last verified
- Sep 2019
- First submitted
- 23 Feb 2016
- Last updated
- 23 Sep 2019
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Sep 2019. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Provider-at-Triage on Emergency Department Efficiency, Information Delivery and Patient Satisfaction
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02703701
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MD at Triage / IRB201500586
- Keywords
- Patient Satisfaction, Emergency Department efficiency
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 439 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of FloridaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Oct 2015
- Primary completion
- Mar 2016 (actual)
- Study completion
- Mar 2016 (actual)
- First posted
- 9 Mar 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The United States spends over $8,000 per capita annually on health care and its health care system is more expensive than other developed countries. Even with high per capita costs and a high proportion of physician specialists, the US lags in health care performance from patients' perspectives.
The hospital emergency department (ED) is often the portal of entry for patients seeking health care services and is therefore an ideal setting for initiatives to improve efficiency of care delivery and patient satisfaction. Reduction in wait times, enhanced information delivery and ED staff service quality all have a positive influence on patient perception of health care quality and satisfaction.
Prior studies have attempted to increase patient satisfaction by improving staff communication and courtesy, implementing a patient satisfaction team in triage, and delivering information to patients in a timely manner. Another strategy to increase the efficiency of ED operations is adding a physician to triage to perform brief medical screenings and initiate necessary patient testing and treatment. This contrasts to usual practice in which physicians evaluate patients only following registration and nurse assessment of illness or injury severity.
Detailed description
This study will assess the impact of early patient assessment by a physician at Emergency Department (ED) triage on patient perception of information delivery, overall patient satisfaction and ED efficiency. ED efficiency will be assessed by ED length of patient stay, ED left-without-being-seen and ED left during treatment rates.
Participants who decide to take part in this study, will be asked questions by research staff, who will document responses on a secure iPAD device. The survey will ask participants how they feel about their health condition, the emergency department wait, the care they received in the emergency department and how satisfied the participant was with the care received.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Usual Care | – | Other: Usual CareGroup enrolled during normal emergency department operating procedures (without a physician present at triage). |
| Physician at Triage | – | Behavioral: Physician at triageGroup enrolled while a physician is present at triage. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 110 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Individuals receiving care from the Emergency Department between 10am-3pm on days a physician is (Monday-Wednesday) and is not (Thursday-Sunday) assigned to triage.
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- English speaking
- Without hemodynamic or respiratory compromise
- Do not have a nurse-assigned triage severity score of Emergency Severity Index 1 (most severe illness or injury score).
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Unwilling or unable to sign an informed consent
- In police custody
- Too ill to participate in study.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Physician at triageA physician embedded at triage | Behavioural | Physician at Triage |
| Usual CareNo physician at triage | Other | Usual Care |
Primary outcome
Patient Satisfaction
Time frame: 60 minutes after Emergency Department triage
Patient Satisfaction Score- brief survey measured on a Likert Scale * 1= Never * 2= Sometimes * 3= Usually * 4= Always * 5= Not applicable - I did not see a doctor today
2 secondary outcomes
Emergency Department efficiency
Time frame: 24 hours after ED triage in minutes
Left without being seen rate
Time frame: 12 hours after ED triage in minutes
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Sep 2019.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Brandon Allen, MD principal investigator
Univeristy of Florida
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Patient Satisfaction With Emergency Department Efficiency, run by University of Florida at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Sep 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Patient Satisfaction (time frame: 60 minutes after Emergency Department triage). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Sep 2019; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.