Aims and objectives

Risk assessment and triage are central tasks in an emergency department. The presently used algorithms are time consuming and not based on evidence and could potentially do more harm than benefit for the patients.

The general aims of the research in the emergency department are to improve and validate risk assessment and triage in order to optimise patient handling the first hours following admission.

Focus areas

The research has three focus areas

1. Development and validation of systematic triage algorithms with special focus on simplification of existing algorithms and the use of clinical judgement as an integrated part of triage.
2. Systematic use of well-known and experimental bio markers as risk stratification and diagnostic tools in an emergency department. The aim is to identify not only high risk patients but also patients that are eligible for early discharge and out-patient follow-up.
3. Screening of high risk patients in the emergency department with acute full-body CT scans

Disciplines, methods and tools

The research team in the emergency department aims at doing international clinical studies. The primary used method is cluster randomisation and follow-up through the national registers.