Optimizing Patient Care in the Emergency Department: Insights from Automated Alert Systems and Triage Strategies

Over the past three decades, various scoring systems have emerged in clinical practice, but evidence primarily originates from ward contexts, yielding conflicting data on their impact, including mortality and referrals. Although early intervention benefits emergency department (ED) patients, the effectiveness of early warning systems remains uncertain due to insufficient evidence. This systematic review aims to comprehensively analyze current literature, exploring the integration of automated alerts and novel triage methods in the ED. Thorough database searches (e.g., MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library) identified relevant articles meeting specific criteria: adults (≥18 years), randomized controlled trials, observational, and comparative studies. Inclusion focused on English-language, human-participant studies; exclusions involved pediatric, case, non-English studies, and abstract-only content. Initially, 260 studies underwent screening based on titles and abstracts, with 218 papers excluded. Subsequently, 42 papers underwent full-text assessment, eliminating articles not meeting the criteria. Ultimately, only four studies were deemed suitable for final data collection and inclusion in the review. The integration of technology-assisted decision support, combined triage approaches, and standardized assessment tools shows promise in enhancing patient outcomes and optimizing resource utilization. Nonetheless, the studies’ limitations highlight the importance of robust research methods and a considerate implementation process. Advancing emergency care necessitates a harmonious balance between innovation and evidence-based practice to ensure the highest quality of patient well-being.

Keywords: Early warning score, mortality, triage methods, vital signs