The Emergency care assessment and treatment (ECAT) process map was co-designed with emergency nurses to guide how the ECAT protocols should be used.
The process guides the four main stages of using the protocols.
Identify
Review triage notes, check in with patient to confirm brief history and symptoms.
The appropriate ECAT protocol is identified.
Initiate care
The ECAT protocol is started. Full history, A to G, focused assessment and interventions are used to create a plan for the patient and provide care.
Imaging, pathology and medication begin, as needed, within the nurse's scope of practice.
Reassess
Continuous reassessment and management.
The nurse decides to continue or switch ECAT protocols, and escalates according to the local CERS protocol, if required.
Progress
A medical or nurse practitioner is assigned care of patient, in person or virtually.
The ECAT protocol stops.
Continue switch escalate
Nurses should reassess a patient’s condition frequently while using the ECAT protocols and, based on assessment findings, determine whether to:
- continue with the selected protocol
- switch to a more appropriate protocol, or
- escalate as per the local CERS response.