Impact of Artificial Intelligence Integration in Emergency Department Triage on Waiting Times: A Systematic Review Compared to Conventional Practices in ED Triage.

Abstract

Background: The global issue of increased patient waiting times in healthcare facilities is a pressing concern, as it can lead to significant patient harm due to delayed access to healthcare. This research proposes the integration of artificial intelligence into emergency department triage systems as a solution to mitigate this issue. Aims: To evaluate the impact of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) support tools on waiting times in Emergency Departments through a systematic review of existing literature. Design: A thorough systematic review of the literature was conducted by searching electronic databases and internet search engines, including ScienceDirect, Springer, and PubMed, as well as reference lists. Studies published from January 1, 2019, to May 25, 2024, were included. Articles that did not pertain to AI, interventions that were irrelevant to emergency departments (EDs) or did not provide outcomes related to reducing waiting times either directly or indirectly, or evaluation data were excluded to ensure the quality and relevance of the included studies. Results: The analysis included ten peer-reviewed journals published after January 2019 on integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) with emergency department triage. Recent findings suggest that integrating artificial Intelligence (AI) models into the emergency department (ED) triage processes can hold significant potential for reducing overcrowding and minimising wait times. Some studies have found that AI reduces waiting times by between 20 seconds and 30 minutes. However, a study found AI to increase waiting times for categories 3 to 5 by 2.75 to 5.33 minutes. Conclusions: This review has highlighted AI's potential to bring innovative solutions to emergency department settings. Implementing these AI-driven solutions has shown promise in enhancing healthcare delivery in the emergency department. However, further research is crucial to refine these models and ensure their practical application, underscoring the importance of continued involvement in the field.