SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Centralized Hospitalist-Led Triage: Optimizing Interfacility Transfers Through the Administrative Triage Clinician Program

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This document describes the Administrative Triage Clinician (ATC) program, a hospitalist-led triage model launched in July 2024 within a virtual hospital medicine framework at a large multi-hospital system. The program was designed to improve interfacility transfers and direct admissions by centralizing decision-making and using real-time capacity data to match patients with the right level of care and the right facility.<br /><br />Previously, local hospitalists handled transfer and admission requests during clinical shifts without full visibility into system-wide bed availability or hospital capabilities. This often created delays, inefficient placement, and added strain on clinical teams. Under the ATC model, hospitalists serve as centralized triage clinicians who review cases from emergency departments, clinics, and other hospitals. They assess clinical appropriateness, urgency, and available resources across floor, intermediate, and intensive care settings. Transfer center staff route requests to ATCs through Epic secure chat, and ATCs communicate with requesting providers via recorded phone calls.<br /><br />Accepted cases are documented using a standardized Transfer Acceptance Note and handed off to local hospitalists. The program emphasizes standardized protocols, capacity dashboards, and detailed hospital capability documents to support consistent decisions.<br /><br />Early implementation showed several benefits, including improved patient safety, more appropriate level-of-care placement, better resource allocation, and fewer interruptions for local hospitalists. However, it also revealed challenges such as longer call center case times, balancing consultant involvement, and managing planned versus emergent admissions. The team responded with iterative workflow improvements, including enhanced handoff templates, revised planned admission processes, and pilots for inpatient e-consults.<br /><br />Overall, the ATC program demonstrates that centralized, hospitalist-led triage can improve transfer efficiency and support scalable, patient-centered capacity management in complex health systems.

Asset Subtitle

Amy Yu

Meta Tag

Author List Adam v. Meyer, Amy Yu, Courtney Enix, Darlene Tad-Y, Hemali Patel

Category Innovations

Concept Central Triage

Concept HM Triage Clinician

Concept Patient Transfer

Concept Direct Admission

Concept Clinical Appropriateness

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Colorado

Presenting Author Amy Yu

Track Transitions of Care

Keywords

Administrative Triage Clinician

hospitalist-led triage

interfacility transfers

direct admissions

capacity management

virtual hospital medicine

patient placement

transfer center

Epic secure chat

Transfer Acceptance Note

Central Triage

HM Triage Clinician

Patient Transfer

Direct Admission

Clinical Appropriateness