Factors Influencing Time to Disposition in Obstetric Triage: A Clinical, Operational, and Patient-Specific Analysis

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Flow Optimization

Background:

• Obstetric triage is a critical point for patient care and resource allocation.
• Understanding factors influencing triage time to disposition is essential for improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess factors impacting obstetric triage time to disposition.
• To test hypotheses that high-risk patients and periods with less staffing prolong length of stay (LOS).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 6,612 obstetric triage visits (2022-2023).
• Analysis included patient disposition (admission vs. nonadmission), chief complaints, and demographic factors.
• Statistical analysis used SAS for chi-square, Fisher's exact, t-tests, and Mann-Whitney tests (p < 0.05).

Main Results:

• Nonadmitted patients had a significantly longer LOS (185 minutes) compared to admitted patients (64 minutes).
• High-risk maternal-fetal medicine and preterm patients experienced longer LOS.
• Daytime and weekday evaluations were associated with significantly longer LOS.

Conclusions:

• Patient and unit factors significantly influence obstetric triage LOS.
• Nonadmitted patients face triple the LOS, indicating a need for targeted interventions.
• High-risk pregnancies and daytime/weekday visits require attention for optimizing triage workflow.