Effect and Safety of a Pediatric Triage Track on Hospital Visits and at the Public Medical Helpline 1813, Capital Region, Denmark

Children under three years old often fall ill. While most illnesses are mild, they often lead to worry which contributes to a high number of contacts with general practitioners and acute medical services such as the Medical Helpline 1813 (MH1813). The MH1813 is a free urgent medical helpline staffed by healthcare professionals and intended for acute medical conditions that cannot wait until the general practitioner is available the following day. About 25% of the calls to MH1813 regards a child under the age of 10 years. To improve triage, MH1813 implemented video triage and educational video tutorials for parents. In July 2022, a pediatric triage track was established to route calls concerning children to specialists in pediatrics, ensuring better expertise. The hypothesis is that this new pediatric triage track have reduced hospital referrals safely, without increasing ambulance dispatches or severe incidents.