23. IMPACT OF TRIAGE ON PATIENT PRESENTATIONS AT A LARGE PUBLICLY FUNDED SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICE

Abstract

Introduction/Background: Increasing prevalence of sexually transmissible diseases in Australia has led health authorities to require publicly funded sexual health services to target services to those most in need. Nurse triage has previously been shown to improve efficiency of sexual health services. Nurse triage of all new patients telephoning SSHC for an appointment was implemented in 2004. A priority tool was developed to guide the process that delegated the types of clients and client presentations appropriate for the Centre.

A review was conducted of medical record data in the patient database to ascertain the percentage of patient presentations triaged into SSHC who did not fit the priority categories in the tool. This was conducted for a full year in 2206 and for comparison pre implementation of the triage system in 2001.

Results: In 2001 a total of 23% of 1422 new patients did not fit the criteria of patient presentations appropriate for the Centre. In 2206 this percentage more than halved to 10% of 1039 patient presentations.

Conclusions: Telephone triage has been effective in increasing the percentage of priority presentations at SSHC.