Paramedic streaming upon arrival in emergency department: A prospective study

The role of paramedics in hospital triage or streaming models has not been adequately explored and is potentially a missed opportunity for enhanced patient flow. The aim of the present study was to assess the concordance between a streaming decision by paramedics with the decision by nurses after arrival to the ED.

A prospective observational study was conducted. Paramedics were met at the entrance to the hospital and asked which destination they thought was appropriate (the index test). The ED nurse streaming decision was the reference standard. Cases of discordance were reviewed and assessed for clinical risk by an independent expert panel that was blinded.

We collected data from 500 cases that were transported by ambulance consisting of 55% males with a median age of 57 years (interquartile range 38-75). The overall concordance between paramedics' and streaming decision was 86.4% (95% confidence interval 83.1-89.1). The concordance was highest among patients streamed to resuscitation and general cubicles. Among discordant cases (n = 68), 39 were streamed to a more acute destination than the paramedic suggested. Of the 68 discordant cases, 56 were deemed to be of no clinical risk.

Despite limited knowledge of patient load within the ED, paramedics can allocate a streaming destination with high accuracy and this appears to be associated with low clinical risks. Early pre-hospital notification of streaming destination with proactive allocation of ED destination presents a real opportunity to minimise off-load times and improve patient flow.