Evaluating the Efficacy of Patient-Focused Education in an Obstetric Triage Setting
Abstract
Obstetrics (OB) triage is a necessary component of any labor and delivery unit. Pregnant women who have medical or pregnancy concerns utilize this resource in a similar manner to an urgent care or emergency department. Triage is also the entry point to admission for delivery if not already scheduled. Superfluous triage visits take vital time and resources away from essential and at times emergency care. Additionally, unneeded visits to triage add anxiety and cost time and money for the pregnant patient. This study was designed to determine if handouts given at prenatal outpatient visits could reduce unnecessary OB triage visits. Information was given regarding common concerns in pregnancy and guidance given on when a triage visit would be recommended. Given this information, the hypothesis was that unnecessary visits would decrease. Triage visits were analyzed and determined necessary if the patient was subsequently admitted and unnecessary if the patient was discharged from triage. The hypothesis was not confirmed; however, with amended data collection methods, this modality could still be shown to be a viable method to improve the efficiency of triage and the pregnant patients’ overall experience.
Start Time
15-4-2026 1:30 PM
End Time
15-4-2026 4:30 PM
Room Number
Culp Ballroom 316
Poster Number
43
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Subtype
Posters - Competitive
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Graduate and Professional Degree Students, Residents, Fellows
Faculty Mentor
Chase Mussard
Evaluating the Efficacy of Patient-Focused Education in an Obstetric Triage Setting
Culp Ballroom 316
Obstetrics (OB) triage is a necessary component of any labor and delivery unit. Pregnant women who have medical or pregnancy concerns utilize this resource in a similar manner to an urgent care or emergency department. Triage is also the entry point to admission for delivery if not already scheduled. Superfluous triage visits take vital time and resources away from essential and at times emergency care. Additionally, unneeded visits to triage add anxiety and cost time and money for the pregnant patient. This study was designed to determine if handouts given at prenatal outpatient visits could reduce unnecessary OB triage visits. Information was given regarding common concerns in pregnancy and guidance given on when a triage visit would be recommended. Given this information, the hypothesis was that unnecessary visits would decrease. Triage visits were analyzed and determined necessary if the patient was subsequently admitted and unnecessary if the patient was discharged from triage. The hypothesis was not confirmed; however, with amended data collection methods, this modality could still be shown to be a viable method to improve the efficiency of triage and the pregnant patients’ overall experience.
