DAISY- Diagnostic AI System for Robotic and Automated Triage and Assessment

The number of patients arriving at Emergency Departments (EDs) in England increased by 21% between 2010 and 2019. Combined with international healthcare staff shortages which have been an ongoing concern for over three decades, this has resulted in overcrowded EDs and long patient waits. Over 20,000 patients waited more than 12 hours for treatment in EDs in England in December 2021. As such, solutions must be explored to alleviate the strain on medical professionals and systems so that they can optimise their time,and increase the throughput in EDs for the benefit of patients.

The use of digital technology to collect, organise and perform initial analysis of patients without the need to interact with healthcare staff, theoretically frees staff from data collection, reducing waiting times and the door-to-treatment times. DAISY is a proposed humanoid Robot that uses digital technology to perform these 'front-door' functions.

The trial participants will be patients who self-present to the Emergency Department with acute clinical needs. The study is unblinded and adult ED users are invited to participate in the use of an automated triage process while they await the regular human triage personnel. Potential participants may be primarily identified by the reception staff after which they undergo an initial screening by a member of the investigating team who consents the patient for the study according to the protocol specifications. The participants, thereafter interact with DAISY to complete a consultation after which an anonymised report is generated as the initial Case Report Form (CRF). The participant returns to their original position in the traditional triage queue without an advantage or disadvantage in the 'time-to-see' a clinician. Their return signifies the end of their active participation in the trial.

Participants are expected to spend less than 30 minutes for the automated consultation. They may choose to discontinue their engagement with the study at any point during the process. Participants who do not complete the process will be included in the final data analysis.

Inclusion criteria

• Willing and able to give informed consent
• Aged 18 years or above
• Able and willing to comply with all study requirements
• Able to engage or operate the automated system, either unaided or with help from own carers

Exclusion criteria

• Less than 18 years of age
• Decreased consciousness and/or affect
• In need of urgent transfer to the resuscitation area
• Deemed unsuitable or too unwell by the recruiting investigator