NCT00435890

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial will introduce a triage liaison physician (TLP) into the University of Alberta Hospital Emergency Department (ED) and assess the influence on patients who leave without being seen, ED length of stay, and other ED Overcrowding outcomes.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
5,718

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_4

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2005

Shorter than P25 for phase_4

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 1, 2005

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 1, 2006

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 1, 2006

Completed
9 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 15, 2007

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 16, 2007

Completed
Last Updated

September 12, 2008

Status Verified

September 1, 2008

Enrollment Period

2 months

First QC Date

February 15, 2007

Last Update Submit

September 11, 2008

Conditions

Acute Illness

Keywords

ED OvercrowdingLength of stayEmergency triagetriage

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Median patient length of stay

    while in the Emergency Department

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Left without being seen

    while in the Emergency Department

  • ambulance turnaround times

    while in the Emergency Department

  • satisfaction (physicians and nurses)

    following their Emergency Department shift

  • TLP activity

    while in the Emergency Department

Study Arms (1)

1

NO INTERVENTION

No triage liaison physician

Behavioral: Triage Liaison Physician

Interventions

Triage Liaison PhysicianBEHAVIORAL

triage liaison physician stationed with nurses at the triage desk of the Emergency Department.

1

Eligibility Criteria

Age17 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Only adult patients (\> 17 years of age) presenting to the University of Alberta Hospital Emergency Department (UAH ED), during the study interval will be included in the evaluation.

You may not qualify if:

  • Direct admits/Pediatric patients.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Alberta Hospital

Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, Canada

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Holroyd BR, Bullard MJ, Latoszek K, Gordon D, Allen S, Tam S, Blitz S, Yoon P, Rowe BH. Impact of a triage liaison physician on emergency department overcrowding and throughput: a randomized controlled trial. Acad Emerg Med. 2007 Aug;14(8):702-8. doi: 10.1197/j.aem.2007.04.018.

    PMID: 17656607BACKGROUND

Study Officials

  • Brian H Rowe, MD

    University of Alberta

    STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 4
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 15, 2007

First Posted

February 16, 2007

Study Start

December 1, 2005

Primary Completion

February 1, 2006

Study Completion

June 1, 2006

Last Updated

September 12, 2008

Record last verified: 2008-09

Locations

CA(1)