Transforming Triage: A nursing professional-informed study exploring perceptions of autonomy and artificial intelligence (AI) in emergency departments (EDs)
Why is this study important?
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Approximately 2.5 million Ontarians do not have access to a regular family doctor. Many now turn to EDs for care, which has led to ever-growing wait times. The Canadian Institute for Health Information has reported that there are around 6 million ED visits per year in Ontario.
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Decision-making at triage has become increasingly complicated given that not all EDs in Ontario are equipped to accommodate those that they are intended to serve.
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Triaging has been highlighted in literature and practice as a promising area for AI development due to its ability to analyze diverse patient factors and make timely and correct decisions.
Despite being instrumental in the operation of emergency departments, very little is known about the perspectives of nursing professionals on the ideal role of AI in decision-making at the point of triage. This survey seeks to amplify the voices of nursing professionals in emergency departments, and to position them as true consultants in the conceptualization of the future of triaging.
Participate Now!
You may complete the following if:
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You are a Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP); AND
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You are regulated by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO); AND
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You currently work in an emergency department in Ontario
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Click the button below to complete the survey or copy the following link into a new window: [LINK TO BE INSERTED].
Benefits of Participation
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), using AI to advance the interests of patients and communities requires a collective effort. This survey presents respondents with a valuable opportunity to improve triaging conditions and enhance nursing practice by sharing their first-hand experiences on the frontlines to inform the optimization of triaging in emergency departments.
The data collected from this mixed-methods survey, which is being disseminated across Ontario, can be applied to inform the following:
The strategic allocation of health human resources to enable proactive response that considers each patient's unique experience of their emergency
Strategies to decrease wait times caused by ineffective triaging practices
Clinical workflows that concurrently consider patient need and provider capacity to minimize provider burnout
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Responses will ultimately help ensure that the future of triaging is one that supports nursing professionals’ comfort, increases their preparedness for high patient volumes, enables a more efficient patient flow, and decreases patient wait times for care.
About Us
The CGAI Study is committed to exploring the dynamic landscape of triaging in Ontario emergency departments through rigorous research and analysis.
The CGAI Study is committed to exploring the dynamic landscape of triaging in Ontario emergency departments through rigorous research and analysis.
Study Timelines
01
Health Professional Consultations
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October 2024 to March 2025
Incorporating the perspectives of health professionals on the frontlines, as well as experts on AI in healthcare, to ensure that the survey produces relevant data that can support best practices in triaging across Ontario.
02
Survey Dissemination​
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April 2025 to September 2025
03
Report Development
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January 2026 to May 2026
Summarizing the current state of triage-related decision making in EDs and conceptualizing the future state with consideration to the potential impact of AI at the point of triage.
Disseminating the survey and obtaining responses from Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in EDs across Ontario.