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Improving the Assessment and Triage of Patients with Mental Illne.pdf (8.61 MB)

Improving the Assessment and Triage of Patients with Mental Illness attending the Emergency Department

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posted on 2019-11-22, 18:10 authored by Jacqueline de Lacy

Since the amalgamation of mental institutions with acute hospitals there has been an increase in presentations of patients with mental illness to the Emergency Department. The first point of contact for the patient attending the Emergency Department is typically triage. It is the point where emergency care begins with the nurse assessing the patient and assigning a triage category that best suits the patient’s clinical need. Traditionally triage had its origins in assessing patients presenting with a physical injury or illness and did not consider those with a psychological illness. Present-day triage has improved but not to the extent that is required for best practice. Furthermore staff in the Emergency Department may have received no formal training in the speciality that is Mental Health. Specialised training is necessary to provide a consistent and high standard of nursing care and assessment. The purpose of this study was the implementation of a change management project. This was initiated in a large Emergency Department in Dublin. The project involved the introduction of a mental illness triage tool, a computerised pop-up screen in triage and nursing assessment documentation specifically designed to manage the care of the patient attending the emergency department with a mental illness.

History

First Supervisor

Mr. John Lawson

Comments

A dissertation submitted in part fulfilment of the degree of MSc in Healthcare Management, Institute of Leadership, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, 2011

Published Citation

de Lacy J. Improving the Assessment and Triage of Patients with Mental Illness attending the Emergency Department [Masters dissertation]. Dublin: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; 2011.

Degree Name

  • MSc Healthcare Management

Date of award

2011-06-30

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