Last update:
14-Jan-2025

Emergency departments (EDs) are often converted into general health care departments, resulting in overcrowding. This phenomenon occurs due to incidents which are deliberately presented as urgent. In the present study, triage in emergency medicine is researched and the investigation of the possibility of reducing the waiting list of morning regular surgeries through the performance of afternoon surgeries in the National Health System (NHS) of Greece and the establishment of the list of surgeries. Better skills in patient allocation were obtained by health professionals with satisfactory experience in triage, competently trained. Triage training leads to its improvement. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is a new way to improve procedures. The operation of full-day hospitals is based on laws 2889/2001 (Greek Government Gazette 37/A/2.3.2001) and 4931/2022 (Greek Government Gazette 94/A/13.5.2022) and the performance of afternoon surgeries is legal. The management of the relevant coordination must be immediately developed: Combining the tools of triage, performing evening surgeries, and managing the list of surgeries, even through AI, where applicable. Additional expertise of health professionals in handling triage issues is indicated.

Key words: Emergency medicine, Management, Surgical waiting list, Triage.