AI-driven triage in emergency departments: A review of benefits, challenges, and future directions

Journal article

Da'Costa, Adebayo, Teke, Jennifer, Origbo, Joseph E, Osonuga, Ayokunle, Egbon, Eghosasere and Olawade, David B 2025. AI-driven triage in emergency departments: A review of benefits, challenges, and future directions. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 197, p. 105838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2025.105838
AuthorsDa'Costa, Adebayo, Teke, Jennifer, Origbo, Joseph E, Osonuga, Ayokunle, Egbon, Eghosasere and Olawade, David B
AbstractEmergency Departments (EDs) are critical in providing immediate care, often under pressure from overcrowding, resource constraints, and variability in patient prioritization. Traditional triage systems, while structured, rely on subjective assessments, which can lack consistency during peak hours or mass casualty events. AI-driven triage systems present a promising solution, automating patient prioritization by analyzing real-time data, such as vital signs, medical history, and presenting symptoms. This narrative review examines the key components, benefits, limitations, and future directions of AI-driven triage systems in EDs. This narrative review analyzed peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2024, identified through searches in PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. Findings were synthesized to provide a comprehensive overview of their potential and limitations. The review identifies substantial benefits of AI-driven triage, including improved patient prioritization, reduced wait times, and optimized resource allocation. However, challenges such as data quality issues, algorithmic bias, clinician trust, and ethical concerns are significant barriers to widespread adoption. Future directions emphasize the need for algorithm refinement, integration with wearable technology, clinician education, and ethical framework development to address these challenges and ensure equitable implementation. AI-driven triage systems have the potential to transform ED operations by enhancing efficiency, improving patient outcomes, and supporting healthcare professionals in high-pressure environments. As healthcare demands continue to grow, these systems represent a vital innovation for advancing emergency care and addressing longstanding challenges in triage. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.]
KeywordsAI-driven triage; Healthcare innovation; Patient prioritization; Emergency Department; Machine learning
Year2025
JournalInternational Journal of Medical Informatics
Journal citation197, p. 105838
PublisherElsevier
ISSN1872-8243
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2025.105838
Official URLhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1386505625000553
Publication dates
Online15 Feb 2025
Publication process dates
Accepted13 Feb 2025
Deposited05 Mar 2025
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Open
Output statusPublished
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