EMERGENCY SEVERITY INDEX REVIEW

1. EMERGENCYSEVERITY INDEXREVIEW

3. Decision Point A • Does the patient require immediate life saving intervention? • Airway • Obstructed or partially obstructed • Unable to protect their own airway • Breathing • Apneic • Intubated prehospital • Severe respiratory distress • SpO2 less than 90%

4. Decision Point A • Cont. • Circulation • Pulseless or concerned about rate, rhythm or quality • Drugs • Hemodynamic interventions • Immediate IV medications to correct hemodynamic instability

5. Decision Point A • Does this patient have an acute mental status change that requires immediate life saving intervention? • Hypoglycemia needs glucose • Heroin OD needs narcan • Subarachnoid bleed needs airway protection • Is this patient a P or U on the AVPU scale

6. Level 1 Examples • Cardiac or respiratory arrest • Overdose with a RR of 8 • Severe respiratory distress • Acute SOA with SpO2 < 90% • Anaphylactic shock • Critically injured trauma patient • Chest pain, pale, diaphoretic • Chest palpitations, HR 180+ • Unresponsive with strong odor of alcohol • Severe stroke needs airway protection

7. Airway and breathing Intubation Surgical airway CPAP, BiPAP Bag valve mask Defibrillation External pacing Chest needle decompression Hemodynamics Significant IV fluid resuscitation Blood administration IV medications Vasopressors Control of major bleeding Aggressive Life SavingInterventionsWill this intervention save this persons life?

8. Immediate Life-saving Interventions

9. 3 questions used to determine whether the patient meets level 2 • Is this a high risk situation? • Is this patient confused, lethargic or disoriented? • Is this patient in severe pain or distress? • The triage nurse obtains pertinent subjective and objective information to quickly answer these questions

11. Decision Point BIs this a high risk situation? • Determination is based on a brief patient interview, gross observations, “sixth sense” • Do not require a full set of vital signs • Unsafe for the patient to wait • Suggestive of a condition that could easily deteriorate • Symptoms of a condition that’s treatment is time sensitive • Potential for major life or organ threat

12. Examples of “High Risk” • Episodes of chest pain, denies other symptoms, known cardiac history • R/O PE • Newborn with a fever • Rule out ectopic pregnancy • Neutropenia with a fever • Suicidal/homicidal

13. Decision Point BIs the patient confused, lethargic or disoriented? • Is there an acute change in level of consciousness? • Is this situation where the brain is structurally or chemically compromised?

14. Examples • New onset of confusion in an elderly patient • 30 y.o. with a known brain tumor whose wife reports that he is confused • Adolescent found confused and disoriented

15. Decision Point BIs the patient in severe pain or distress? • Is the patient currently in Pain? • Pain intensity rating • Chief complaint • PMH, medications • VS, physical assessment findings • Assign ESI level 2 if and onlyif: • Self reported 7/10 or greater • AND • RN cannot intervene AND they require immediate intervention • Does this patient need your last bed?

16. ESI level 2 pain examples • ? Kidney stone • Severe flank pain, vomiting • Burn victim • Burns to both arms • Oncology patient • Possible dislocated shoulder • Rates pain 10+, diaphoretic, tearful • ? Compartment syndrome

17. Is this patient in distress?Physiological or Psychological • Sexual assault victim • Combative patient • Homicidal/suicidal patient • Bipolar patient who is manic • Acute grief reaction • Known alcohol use with head injury

18. Decision Point C

19. Decision point CHow many resources? • Determined by the experienced ED RN at triage • Based on the standard of care • Independent of type of hospital, location, physician on duty, acuity of the department

20. Resources: Labs ECG X-ray CT, MRI IV fluids IV, IM meds & nebs Specialty Consult Simple procedure=1 (lac repair, foley cath) Complex procedure=2 (conscious sedation) Not Resources: History and Physical Pelvic Point of care testing Saline or heplock PO medications Tetanus shot Prescription refills Phone call to PCP Simple wound care Crutches, gel splints, slings What is a resource?

21. ESI Level 5 • No Resources • Examples -Healthy 10y.o. with “poison ivy” -Healthy 52y.o. Who ran out of his BP med recently -22y.o. involved in an MVC 2 days ago, just wants to get checked -46y.o. with a cold

22. ESI level 4 • Stable, can safely wait for hours to be seen • Care by mid-level providers in a fast track or urgent care setting • Requires a physical exam and one resource

23. ESI level 4 • Examples: -Healthy 19y.o. with a sore throat and fever -Healthy 29y.o. with a UTI, denies abdominal pain -Healthy 43y.o. with a stubbed toe -Healthy 12y.o. with a minor thumb laceration

24. ESI level 3 • 30-40% of patients seen in the ED • Need 2 or more resources • Require in-depth evaluation • Long length of stay • Before assigning a patient to ESI level 3 the nurse must consider the patients vital signs

25. Decision point DWhat are the patients vital signs?Consider the vital signs:Are they outside of the acceptable parameters for age?Do they fit with illness, such as HR elevated due to fever?If unacceptable consider up-triage to ESI level 2

26. ESI level 3, 4 & 5 examples • ESI level 3 • Fractured ankle • Abdominal pain • Most migraines • ESI level 4 • Sprained ankle • Abscess • ESI level 5 • Toothache

27. Triage case reviews