TriageFO-LOW-RETRINCT06971419
FOllow-up of LOW-acuity Patients After REdirection From a Swiss Emergency Department Using an Electronic TRIage Application
An observational study of Triage and Low Acuity Patients, run by Hôpital Fribourgeois at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a growing issue, affecting patient safety, healthcare quality, and hospital efficiency. One strategy to manage low-acuity patients is triage-based redirection, where patients with non-urgent conditions are offered the option to receive care at external medical facilities… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Triage, Low Acuity Patients, Health Literacy Level
- What is being tested?
- intervention is the use of aTriage-Based Patient Redirection Using an Electronic Decision Support Toolin the emergency department (ED)
- How many people
- 450 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 15 Jun 2025to 30 Jun 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Participants will be selected from adult patients (≥18 years old) seeking care at the Emergency Department (ED) of Fribourg Cantonal Hospital, Switzerland. This population consists of patients who: * present diverse medical complaints typically classified as with low-acuity (SETS 4) or semi-urgent (SETS 3) conditions as determined by the Swiss Emergency Triage Scale (SETS). * Are evaluated for potential redirection by ED triage nurse using the Logibec electronic triage system and may benefit from this triage-based redirection rather than hospital-based emergency care * Require non-urgent medical care that can be managed outside the hospital setting * French- or German-speaking individuals (for informed consent and follow-up participation)
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥18 years old
- Triage level SETS 3 or SETS 4 (classified as semi-urgent or low-acuity)
- Identified as eligible for redirection by the Logibec electronic triage system
- Able to speak and read French or German (for informed consent and follow-up)
- Provides informed consent: Oral consent at Day 2 and Signed informed consent sent by post after inclusion
Who cannot join
- Inability to provide informed consent (e.g., cognitive impairment, language barrier without translation support)
- Inability to comply with study procedures, such as: Severe hearing impairment without hearing aids; Acute psychiatric conditions preventing participation; Not available for follow-up phone calls within the next 6 months
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Switzerland1 site
HFR-Fribourg
Fribourg, Canton of Fribourg, 1700
Youcef Guechi, MD, +41263063060, youcef.guechi@h-fr.ch
About this study
Official title: FOllow-Up of LOW-Acuity Patients After REdirection From the Emergency Department at Fribourg Cantonal Hospital in Switzerland Using an Electronic TRIage Application: a Monocentric, Prospective Observational Study
Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a growing issue, affecting patient safety, healthcare quality, and hospital efficiency. One strategy to manage low-acuity patients is triage-based redirection, where patients with non-urgent conditions are offered the option to receive care at external medical facilities instead of the ED.
This monocentric, prospective observational study will be conducted at Fribourg Cantonal Hospital, Switzerland, and evaluates the impact of a new electronic triage and redirection system (Logibec Réorientation). The study compares two triage processes:
Read more
Current practice - Redirection based on the Swiss Emergency Triage Scale (SETS), limited to low-acuity patients (SETS 4).
New practice - Redirection using the Logibec software, allowing redirection of both low-acuity (SETS 4) and semi-urgent (SETS 3) patients based on predefined criteria.
The primary objective is to assess whether the new triage-based redirection reduces the number of ED consultations per patient within 48 hours of their initial visit.
Secondary outcomes include:
Number of consultations in the ED or other medical facilities within 7 days Rate of hospital admissions within 7 days Patient satisfaction with redirection Evolution of health literacy over 6 months Number of ED visits over 6 months Participants are adult patients (≥18 years old) classified as SETS 3-4 and identified as eligible for redirection by the Logibec software. Data will be collected through phone interviews and questionnaires over a 6-month follow-up period.
This study aims to improve triage efficiency, patient flow management, and healthcare accessibility, while ensuring patient safety in the redirection process.
- Being tested
- intervention is the use of aTriage-Based Patient Redirection Using an Electronic Decision Support Toolin the emergency department (ED)
- Keywords
- Patient Satisfaction, emergency department triage, patient redirection, healthcare system efficiency, Referral and Consultation, electronic decision support tool, patient flow, Emergency overcrowding
- Medical subject headings
- Patient Satisfaction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
intervention is the use of aTriage-Based Patient Redirection Using an Electronic Decision Support Toolin the emergency department (ED)Other
Name: Logibec Réorientation software-assisted triage and redirection
Type: Decision support system for emergency triage
Implementation:
- Applied during patient triage in the emergency department
- Assists in identifying low-acuity (SETS 4) and semi-urgent (SETS 3) patients eligible for redirection
- Uses standardized inclusion/exclusion criteria to guide redirection decisions
Comparator: Standard nurse-led triage and redirection based only on the Swiss Emergency Triage Scale (SETS)
Key Distinction:
- The investigated group receives Logibec-assisted triage and redirection.
- The comparator group follows traditional nurse-led triage without electronic support, limiting redirection to SETS 4 patients only.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Comparator Group (Current Practice - SETS-Based Triage and Redirection) | * Patients are triaged using the Swiss Emergency Triage Scale (SETS) * Only low-acuity patients (SETS 4) are considered for redirection * Patients who agree to redirection are referred to external medical facilities (e.g., primary care clinics) | |
| Investigated Group (New Practice - Logibec-Assisted Triage and Redirection) | * Patients tiraged as SETS 4 and SETS 3 are further evaluated by Logibec Réorientation software which applies applies specific inclusion/exclusion criteria to determine eligibility for redirection
* Eligible patients are offered redirection, with appointments scheduled through the Reorientation software by the triage nurse Receives: Other: intervention is the use of aTriage-Based Patient Redirection Using an Electronic Decision Support Toolin the emergency department (ED) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of Emergency Department Consultations per Patient Within 48 Hours After Initial Visit
This measure refers to the total number of emergency department (ED) visits per patient within 48 hours following their initial presentation to the ED.
The first consultation at the ED is counted as the initial visit.
- Any subsequent unplanned return visits to the ED within 48 hours of the initial visit are included in the count.
- Data collection is conducted through electronic health records (EHR) review and patient follow-up phone calls.
This outcome aims to assess whether electronic triage-assisted redirection is effective, by providing service through alternative health care providers ,without patients needing further ED care
Measured: From initial emergency department visit to 48 hours post-visit
Secondary outcomes (5)
the number of consultations per patient in the ED or other medical services within 7 days after the first ED visit
Measured: From initial emergency department visit to 7 days post-visit
the proportion of patients who need hospitalization related to initial complaint within 7 days
Measured: From initial emergency department visit to 7 days post-visit
the proportion of patients satisfied with the redirection process
Patient satisfaction as assessed by satisfaction questionnaire
Measured: At day 2 and day 7 post-visit
the mean number of ED consultations after 1 month, 3 months and 6 months per patient
Measured: From initial emergency department visit to 6 month post-visit
the evaluation of the health literacy and its evolution within 6 months of visit
Health literacy as evaluated by EU-HLS-Q16 questionnaire
Measured: At day 7 post-visit and 6 months post-visit
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 May 2025
- Study start15 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for TriageStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 450 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hôpital Fribourgeois
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Fribourg
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Vincent Ribordy, Prof., Study director, HFR-Fribourg Emergency Department, University of Fribourg
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06971419
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023-01655
- Other IDs
- HFR_24-09, 2023
- Acronym
- FO-LOW-RETRI
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 19 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 14 May 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared. Due to patient confidentiality regulations, all data will be securely stored in a protected research database (REDCap), with access restricted to authorized study investigators. Only de-identified, aggregated results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences. Identifiable patient information will not be shared outside the study team. Researchers may request summary-level data through formal collaboration agreements. This ensures compliance with data protection regulations while promoting scientific transparency.
Publications
Gobet F, Feral-Pierssens AL, Castelain T, Galofaro L, Najberg H, Ribordy V, Guechi Y. Follow-Up of Low-Acuity Patients After Redirection From a Swiss Emergency Department Using an Electronic Triage Application: Protocol for a Single-Center Prospective Cohort Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2026 Mar 27;15:e82195. doi: 10.2196/82195.
PubMed 41894537
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 May 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- FOllow-Up of LOW-Acuity Patients After REdirection From the Emergency Department at Fribourg Cantonal Hospital in Switzerland Using an Electronic TRIage Application: a Monocentric, Prospective Observational Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06971419
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FO-LOW-RETRI / 2023-01655
- Keywords
- Patient Satisfaction, emergency department triage, patient redirection, healthcare system efficiency, Referral and Consultation, electronic decision support tool, patient flow, Emergency overcrowding
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 450 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Hôpital FribourgeoisUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Fribourg
- Study start
- 15 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 14 May 2025 (actual)
- 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.
Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a growing issue, affecting patient safety, healthcare quality, and hospital efficiency. One strategy to manage low-acuity patients is triage-based redirection, where patients with non-urgent conditions are offered the option to receive care at external medical facilities instead of the ED.
This monocentric, prospective observational study will be conducted at Fribourg Cantonal Hospital, Switzerland, and evaluates the impact of a new electronic triage and redirection system (Logibec Réorientation). The study compares two triage processes:
Current practice - Redirection based on the Swiss Emergency Triage Scale (SETS), limited to low-acuity patients (SETS 4).
New practice - Redirection using the Logibec software, allowing redirection of both low-acuity (SETS 4) and semi-urgent (SETS 3) patients based on predefined criteria.
The primary objective is to assess whether the new triage-based redirection reduces the number of ED consultations per patient within 48 hours of their initial visit.
Secondary outcomes include:
Number of consultations in the ED or other medical facilities within 7 days Rate of hospital admissions within 7 days Patient satisfaction with redirection Evolution of health literacy over 6 months Number of ED visits over 6 months Participants are adult patients (≥18 years old) classified as SETS 3-4 and identified as eligible for redirection by the Logibec software. Data will be collected through phone interviews and questionnaires over a 6-month follow-up period.
This study aims to improve triage efficiency, patient flow management, and healthcare accessibility, while ensuring patient safety in the redirection process.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Comparator Group (Current Practice - SETS-Based Triage and Redirection) | – | –* Patients are triaged using the Swiss Emergency Triage Scale (SETS) * Only low-acuity patients (SETS 4) are considered for redirection * Patients who agree to redirection are referred to external medical facilities (e.g., primary care clinics) |
| Investigated Group (New Practice - Logibec-Assisted Triage and Redirection) | – | Other: intervention is the use of aTriage-Based Patient Redirection Using an Electronic Decision Support Toolin the emergency department (ED)* Patients tiraged as SETS 4 and SETS 3 are further evaluated by Logibec Réorientation software which applies applies specific inclusion/exclusion criteria to determine eligibility for redirection * Eligible patients are offered redirection, with appointments scheduled through the Reorientation software by the triage nurse |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Participants will be selected from adult patients (≥18 years old) seeking care at the Emergency Department (ED) of Fribourg Cantonal Hospital, Switzerland. This population consists of patients who: * present diverse medical complaints typically classified as with low-acuity (SETS 4) or semi-urgent (SETS 3) conditions as determined by the Swiss Emergency Triage Scale (SETS). * Are evaluated for potential redirection by ED triage nurse using the Logibec electronic triage system and may benefit from this triage-based redirection rather than hospital-based emergency care * Require non-urgent medical care that can be managed outside the hospital setting * French- or German-speaking individuals (for informed consent and follow-up participation)
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age ≥18 years old
- Triage level SETS 3 or SETS 4 (classified as semi-urgent or low-acuity)
- Identified as eligible for redirection by the Logibec electronic triage system
- Able to speak and read French or German (for informed consent and follow-up)
- Provides informed consent: Oral consent at Day 2 and Signed informed consent sent by post after inclusion
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Inability to provide informed consent (e.g., cognitive impairment, language barrier without translation support)
- Inability to comply with study procedures, such as: Severe hearing impairment without hearing aids; Acute psychiatric conditions preventing participation; Not available for follow-up phone calls within the next 6 months
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 |
|---|---|---|
| intervention is the use of aTriage-Based Patient Redirection Using an Electronic Decision Support Toolin the emergency department (ED)Name: Logibec Réorientation software-assisted triage and redirection Type: Decision support system for emergency triage Implementation: * Applied during patient triage in the emergency department * Assists in identifying low-acuity (SETS 4) and semi-urgent (SETS 3) patients eligible for redirection * Uses standardized inclusion/exclusion criteria to guide redirection decisions Comparator: Standard nurse-led triage and redirection based only on the Swiss Emergency Triage Scale (SETS) Key Distinction: * The investigated group receives Logibec-assisted triage and redirection. * The comparator group follows traditional nurse-led triage without electronic support, limiting redirection to SETS 4 patients only. | Other | Investigated Group (New Practice - Logibec-Assisted Triage and Redirection) |
Primary outcome
Number of Emergency Department Consultations per Patient Within 48 Hours After Initial Visit
Time frame: From initial emergency department visit to 48 hours post-visit
This measure refers to the total number of emergency department (ED) visits per patient within 48 hours following their initial presentation to the ED. The first consultation at the ED is counted as the initial visit. 1. Any subsequent unplanned return visits to the ED within 48 hours of the initial visit are included in the count. 2. Data collection is conducted through electronic health records (EHR) review and patient follow-up phone calls. This outcome aims to assess whether electronic triage-assisted redirection is effective, by providing service through alternative health care providers ,without patients needing further ED care
5 secondary outcomes
the number of consultations per patient in the ED or other medical services within 7 days after the first ED visit
Time frame: From initial emergency department visit to 7 days post-visit
the proportion of patients who need hospitalization related to initial complaint within 7 days
Time frame: From initial emergency department visit to 7 days post-visit
the proportion of patients satisfied with the redirection process
Time frame: At day 2 and day 7 post-visit
the mean number of ED consultations after 1 month, 3 months and 6 months per patient
Time frame: From initial emergency department visit to 6 month post-visit
the evaluation of the health literacy and its evolution within 6 months of visit
Time frame: At day 7 post-visit and 6 months post-visit
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 May 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41894537Gobet F, Feral-Pierssens AL, Castelain T, Galofaro L, Najberg H, Ribordy V, Guechi Y. Follow-Up of Low-Acuity Patients After Redirection From a Swiss Emergency Department Using an Electronic Triage Application: Protocol for a Single-Center Prospective Cohort Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2026 Mar 27;15:e82195. doi: 10.2196/82195.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared. Due to patient confidentiality regulations, all data will be securely stored in a protected research database (REDCap), with access restricted to authorized study investigators. Only de-identified, aggregated results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences. Identifiable patient information will not be shared outside the study team. Researchers may request summary-level data through formal collaboration agreements. This ensures compliance with data protection regulations while promoting scientific transparency.
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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.
Vincent Ribordy, Prof. study director
HFR-Fribourg Emergency Department, University of Fribourg
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 Triage and Low Acuity Patients, run by Hôpital Fribourgeois at 1 site in Switzerland.
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 5 inclusion and 2 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 May 2025. 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 Switzerland. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Youcef Guechi, MD (+41263063112, youcef.guechi@h-fr.ch), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of Emergency Department Consultations per Patient Within 48 Hours After Initial Visit (time frame: From initial emergency department visit to 48 hours post-visit). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06971419, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 14 May 2025.