The effects of computerized triage on nurse work behavior

The complex work processes and communication patterns exhibited in Emergency Medicine may be effectively managed through the use of information technology. These tools must be evaluated within the work environment to understand their effects on work flow, information flow, and patient safety. In this study the efficiency of the Emergency Department triage process was evaluated pre- and post- implementation of a computerized triage system. Time-and-motion analyses revealed no changes in triage documentation time; however, the duration of interruptions and the number of tasks decreased significantly.