Effective and accurate nurse triage is a cornerstone of health care. One of the main reasons for its success comes from the renowned protocols established by Barton Schmitt, MD, FAAP and David Thompson, MD, FACEP. Read below to learn about five essential nurse triage books, and how they relate to TriageLogic’s industry-leading tools.
What Are Nurse Triage Protocols?
Schmitt-Thompson Triage Protocols are considered the gold standard when it comes to patient symptom evaluation over the phone. They establish a decision tree that allows nurses to assess the severity of symptoms, where vital yes or no answers from patients lead to specific care recommendations.
Want to learn more about nurse triage protocols for your practice or organization?
Schmitt-Thompson Nurse Triage Books
Pediatric Telephone Protocols
Barton Schmitt, MD, FAAP
Children’s health comes with its own unique challenges. Written by Dr. Barton Schmitt, this book equips nurses with specialized protocols they can use to navigate the intricacies of pediatric symptoms over the phone.
Adult Telephone Protocols
David Thompson, MD, FACEP
This book includes comprehensive protocols designed by Dr. David Thompson for helping adult patients, and accounts for the diverse symptoms and concerns that they may experience.
Additional Nurse Triage Books
The Art and Science of Telephone Triage: How to Practice Nursing Over the Phone (2012)
Carol Rutenberg and M. Elizabeth Greenberg
Drawing from a foundation of current nursing practice, theory, extensive research, and practical experience, this book offers a well-rounded perspective on the art of telephone triage nursing. Its endorsement from the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) only serves to emphasize its credibility and relevance.
Breastfeeding Telephone Triage and Advice, 3rd Edition (2019)
Maya Bunik, MD, MSPH, FABM, FAAP
This problem-solving guide offers a valuable resource for nurses, lactation professionals, and medical staff. Crafted by a prominent breastfeeding and phone care practitioner, it’s tailored to complement the pediatric protocols mentioned above and has recently undergone a comprehensive update.
Key revisions include an expanded focus on maternal depression, swaddling and safe sleep within the co-sleeping protocol, more information on tongue tie, an update on idiopathic granular mastitis and breast pain, caution in the exclusive pumping protocol, and informative charts on donor human milk versus commercial fortifiers.
Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Telehealth Nursing, 6th Edition (2018)
American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
Comprising sixteen standards, this edition highlights the six key phases of the nursing process before addressing another ten relating to professional performance in telehealth. These standards offer a comprehensive resource that can prepare applicants for the ambulatory care nursing certification exam.
TriageLogic’s myTriageChecklist: Maximizing the Potential of Nurse Triage Books
Now that we’ve discussed triage protocols and valuable nurse triage books, let’s explore how TriageLogic’s nurse triage tool, myTriageChecklist (MTC), harnesses the power of these protocols to enhance patient care.
Streamlined Triage Process
MTC seamlessly integrates with Schmitt-Thompson protocols, which ensures that triage nurses adhere to up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines during every call. This promotes consistency and accuracy in assessing patients’ symptoms.
Customizable Protocols
Recognizing that healthcare needs can vary, myTriageChecklist allows for the customization of protocols based on a specific organization’s requirements. This flexibility means that providers can tailor their approach while still adhering to the underlying principles of these protocols.
Efficient Decision Support
MTC acts as a powerful decision-support tool for nurses during the triage process. It provides real-time guidance to help them make informed decisions about what types of care patients should seek, in the appropriate windows of time. This makes practices more efficient and helps them identify potentially life-threatening conditions sooner.
Enhanced Patient Experience
By ensuring that nurses follow evidence-based protocols, MTC contributes to a consistent and reliable patient experience. All interactions are documented thoroughly and shared directly with referred providers for continuity of care. This fosters greater patient trust and satisfaction.
Comprehensive Reporting and Documentation
Along with its documentation, MTC offers robust reporting features. Not only can this benefit quality assurance, but it also provides greater clarity about when and why patients tend to call a practice. This means the right number of nurses are scheduled to meet anticipated call volumes.
Improve Your Care With Nurse Triage Books and Software
As healthcare evolves, staying ahead of industry changes means embracing proven methodologies and cutting-edge technologies. These nurse triage books and software can position your organization at the forefront of patient engagement.
Learn more about empowering your team by contacting us to schedule a free demo today!
About TriageLogic
TriageLogic is a URAC-accredited, physician-led provider of top-quality nurse telehealth technology, remote patient monitoring, and medical call center solutions. Founded in 2007, the TriageLogic Group now serves more than 22,000 physicians and covers over 42 million lives nationwide.
