A computer based triage system to support obstetricians in assistance planning

The purpose of this paper is to describe a computer based triage system which is to be implemented at the Emergency Department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University Hospital "P. Giaccone" in Palermo. Within the hospital there is no existing system of obstetric and gynecologic triage. The number of admissions to the obstetric-gynecologic ward is not high, but the triage system could facilitate and improve the process of patient care planning, by classifying patients who enter the ward. The use of the system will help obstetricians to follow a protocol for the classification of patients, guiding them through an analysis of the parameters needed to assign the appropriate priority to patients. Obstetricians and gynecologists will be trained to use the triage system. We will implement a blended training model. Specifically, there will be an initial training period in which different training methodologies and techniques will be used: active didactic strategies will be introduced/provided, and e-learning and face-to-face learning programs will be integrated. The initial phase of the blended training program will be followed by a phase of training on the job, in which both obstetricians and the gynecologists will be trained directly in their own workplace both on the use of the triage system and on the use of treatment and intervention modalities for specific cases. At the end of the training process the effectiveness of the training model will be measured by evaluating the knowledge and skills acquired for using the triage system, and its impact on improving patient care.