Note: This question pertains to practices using the option to display Y and N buttons in front of each triage question. Many practices instead use the option of just having a single checkbox in front of each question.
There are two schools of thought here. Dr. Schmitt’s recommendation for using his protocols is to mark just the first positive triage question. The triage nurse should directly or indirectly be ruling out all of the questions above the first positive question. But Dr. Schmitt feels that marking each of those as a negative response is unnecessary, wastes time and makes the chart difficult to read.
Other people feel that it is important to document what the triage nurse rules out. Documenting the negative triage questions makes the call note more descriptive and can convey to the provider more details about the patient.
Keep in mind that marking only some of the questions N could be seen as a liability risk. Weren’t the other questions ruled out? Why do some nurses in your practice record negative responses and some don’t? Dr. Schmitt argues a consistent office practice is critical.
Finally, note that ruling out all of the questions above the first positive question does not mean asking each of these questions. The triage nurse should use her clinical judgment and experience to determine which questions can be ruled out without directly asking the caller.
