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A systems analysis of obstetric triage . OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to examine some of the variables involved in obstetric triage in an effort to develop a more efficient patient care delivery system in a high-volume obstetric unit . An efficient triage system is essential to a busy labor and delivery unit for the evaluation of unscheduled patient visits . In hospitals that lack an efficient obstetric triage system , it is very difficult to regulate patient flow and wait times . METHOD The study was designed to determine whether a triage room and/or standing orders decreased length of stay as compared to the existing system of evaluating women in labor rooms . In 2 separate phases , women who met triage criteria were randomly assigned to either the triage room or the standard care labor room . During phase 1 , the effect of room assignment was evaluated . During phase 2 , the effect of room assignment and the intervention of standing orders in common obstetric problems were utilized . The total sample size was 398 patients . The study took place on a midsize labor and delivery unit , in an academic medical center averaging 3600 births per year . RESULTS Results showed that using a triage room and/or standing orders did not significantly decrease length of stay . CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that the triage process in this setting is strongly dependent on the provider 's availability to assess , triage , and discharge patients .
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Intervention_Physical
standing orders in common obstetric problems
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Outcome_Other
length of stay
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Outcome_Other
length of stay .
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Participant_Condition
obstetric triage
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Participant_Age
women in labor rooms .
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Participant_Condition
women who met triage criteria