Utilizing Triage Data for Medical Imaging Studies in the Emergency Department

Abstract

The use of radiological images is widespread in the emergency department (ED) as physicians commonly rely on them during initial evaluations to confirm diagnoses, contributing to prolonged waiting times. This study aimed to determine the relationship between commonly gathered triage data and the need for radiological imaging. Data were collected from electronic charts that contained routinely collected hospital data at the time of triage in the King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) in Riyadh ED. The binary logistic regression results demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between age and radiological imaging ordered in the ED. Each one-unit increase in age corresponded to a 0.983-fold increase in the likelihood of ordering radiological imaging (odds ratio: 0.983, 95% confidence interval: 0.972-0.995, p = 0.004). In contrast, hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure were independent predictors of the need for radiological imaging in the ED (p >0.05). Patient data that are immediately available during ED triage can be used to predict the need for radiological imaging during ED visits. Such models can identify patients who may require radiological imaging during ED visits and expedite patient disposition.