Symptoms are assessed by asking questions starting with the most acute and working down in severity to the least acute, in order to determine the need for emergency intervention. Depending on the answers to these questions, the program then guides the nurse through specific pathways to obtain the needed information and help the nurse decide which action, among all the possibilities for conditions causing fever, is necessary for follow up. Thorough documentation is part of the process and must be done as diligently as charting on bedside procedures. Most computerized systems make use of an electronic chart, which can be ongoing for each patient entered into the system. When a patient calls, their chart is pulled up on the screen along with medical history, diagnoses, and records of previous calls to the center are all on record.
Systems vary by institution and vendor, but the capabilities are increasing every day.
The computerized programs used within triage centers are purchased from an independent vendor or established by the management of the center. Protocols must be developed carefully in order to assure accurate and timely information, corresponding with the philosophies of the medical practitioners that are being supported in the community. Even programs purchased through a vendor must be tailored to reflect the advice of the local physician groups. Standing orders for medications or specific instructions for various patient complaints can be built into the system according to physician preference. The protocols are carefully developed from researched standards and proven interventions.