What happens to patients that can’t do eConsult? Would the receptionist do it for them? Is there any way to get everything to flow onto the triage list in a uniform way?

The core principal of total triage is to meet demand with the right person at the right time with the minimum amount of handoff. eConsult is one route into a triage system, and the time taken to by frontline patient assistants to transcribe eConsults may mean that this is not a viable option for practices. We have not specified this approach as an essential building block of total triage. That said, it is an approach that can be tested by practice teams to see if it works for them.

In order for work, from telephone or eConsult, to flow onto the triage list in a uniform way three things are needed:

1.Use of correct slot types for booking

2.Reason for contact clearly entered in slot properties

3.Use of slot notes with more detail, if needed, in slot properties

This makes the work of triage much more straightforward for the duty team and clinicians