TITLE:
The Paediatric Observation Priority Score: A System to Aid Detection of Serious Illness and Assist in Safe Discharge
AUTHORS:
Damian Roland, Gareth Lewis, Peter Fielding, Carla Hakim, Alexandra Watts, Ffion Davies
KEYWORDS:
Emergency Department, Children and Young People, Paediatric, Triage, Patient Discharge, Paediatric Early Warning
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Emergency Medicine,
Vol.4 No.2,
June
14,
2016
ABSTRACT: The Paediatric Observation Priority Score (POPS) is a bespoke assessment tool for use in Paediatric
Emergency Departments incorporating traditional physiological parameters alongside more
subjective observational criteria. Initial performance characteristics of POPS were analysed in a
convenience sample of 936 presentations to ED. Triage on the basis of gut instinct parameters
identified an additional 261 patients deemed of lowest acuity compared to analysis by physiology
scores. Resource consumption increased with increasing acuity on presentation. POPS shows
promise in assisting in the assessment process of children presenting to Emergency Departments.
Inclusion of subjective triage criteria helps contextualise the physiological parameter scoring by
using the experience of staff conducting triage. Initial interpretation of presenting physiology
gives a more informed assessment of initial acuity, and thus is better able to identify a child who
can be safely managed in the community. The system also allows for rapid detection of those most
unwell.