Clinical audit of wait times for the emergency room patient: report and reflection

Timely assessment in the veterinary emergency room is essential. This audit evaluated emergency room wait times following the introduction of a veterinary triage list. Emergency room cases over a defined period were reviewed. Arrival times, triage category, and time to first assessment were recorded. Wait times before and after triage implementation were compared. Implementation of the triage list reduced median wait times across all categories, with the greatest improvements in high-priority cases. Staff adherence to the protocol enhanced patient prioritisation and workflow efficiency.