Application of emergency severity index in pediatric emergency department.

BACKGROUND The purpose of triage is to identify patients needing immediate resuscitation, to assign patients to a pre-designed patient care area, and to initiate diagnostic/therapeutic measures as appropriate. This study aimed to use emergency severity index (ESI) in a pediatric emergency room. METHODS From July 2006 to August 2010, a total of 21 904 patients visited the International Department of Beijing Children's Hospital. The ESI was measured by nurses and physicians, and compared using SPSS. RESULTS Nurses of the hospital took approximately 2 minutes for triage. The results of triage made by nurses were similar to those made by doctors for ESI in levels 1-3 patients. This finding indicated that the nurses are able to identify severe pediatric cases. CONCLUSION In pediatric emergency rooms, ESI is a suitable tool for identifying severe cases and then immediate interventions can be performed accordingly.