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Emergency Severity Index, Version 4: Implementation Handbook, 2012 Edition


Description

The Emergency Severity Index (ESI) is a simple to use, five-level triage instrument that categorizes emergency department (ED) patients by evaluating both patient acuity and resources. The algorithm provides clinically relevant stratification of patients into five groups from 1 (most urgent) to 5 (least urgent). ED educators, clinicians, and managers can use this practical guide to develop and conduct an ESI educational program, implement the algorithm, and design an ongoing quality improvement program.

This handbook is arranged into the following chapters:
  1. Introduction to the emergency severity index: a research-based triage tool
  2. Overview of the emergency severity index
  3. ESI level 2
  4. ESI levels 3-5 and expected resource needs
  5. The role of vital signs in ESI triage
  6. The use of ESI for pediatric triage (new with this edition)
  7. Implementation of ESI triage
  8. Evaluation and quality improvement
  9. Practice cases
  10. Competency cases
The Web page also provides information for obtaining a DVD set of Emergency Severity Index, Version 4: Everything You Need To Know, as well as print copies of the Implementation Handbook.
Links to the Tool:
This tool is available at: http://www.ahrq.gov/research/esi/

Developer

ESI Triage Research Team

Funding Sources

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


QualityTool Topic

Patient/Medication safety; Quality improvement strategies


History

  • Release Date: 05/2005
  • Review Date: 01/2012
  • Recent Summary: 01/2012
  • Original Summary: 05/2005
Disclaimer: The inclusion of a tool in the Innovations Exchange does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or Westat of the tool or of the submitter or developer of the tool. Read more.
QualityTool Classification

Patient Population:
Stage of Care:
Setting of Care:

Last updated: March 14, 2012.