The impact of telemedicine on the efficiency and accuracy of emergency department triage: a staff perspective

In the field of healthcare, telemedicine has emerged as a crucial tool for enhancing the effectiveness and precision of emergency department (ED) triage. Tele-triage is a term used to describe a technology in which a patient’s health record is evaluated over the phone or via another means of communication and treatments or suitable referrals in the EDs are suggested. We assessed emergency department healthcare workers’ familiarity, perceptions, and attitudes toward the use of telemedicine for triage. This cross-sectional study assessed 131 healthcare workers in the ED in one of the largest hospitals in Riyadh. The questionnaire included various measures to evaluate the perception of ED staff about the impact of telemedicine in the ED. Physicians accounted for the highest proportion of the survey respondents (62.6%, n = 82), followed by nurses (32.8%, n = 43) and then paramedics (4.6%, n = 6). Physicians demonstrated greater familiarity with telemedicine (70.7%) than nonphysicians (38.8%) ( p < 0.001). Majority of the participants agreed that telemedicine could be used as a tool for initial assessment. The most frequently used technology was AI-based triage systems, as perceived by ED staff (43.1%, n = 56). The challenges faced in telemedicine implementation for triage included resistance by staff (30.5%, n = 40), privacy concerns (11.5%, n = 15), and lack of training (8.4%, n = 11). In summary, the findings indicate an overall positive perception of ED staff towards using telemedicine in triage within ED, with notable concerns regarding staff resistance, privacy, and training. Despite these challenges, nearly half of the respondents expected an increase in its use, highlighting the need for specific training, alongside technological advancements and equity to enable its widespread adoption. Not applicable.