Reclassification of risk in an emergency referral center: the need for a specific tool for the classification of onco-hematological patients. A cross-sectional study

In emergency rooms, patients are usually classified using scales for predicting risk, resource usage, and the maximum time for receiving medical care. Emergency Severity Index (ESI) is a frequently used scale in this context. However, every patient with cancer is automatically classified as ESI level 3. In this study, patients with cancer seen at an emergency setting were reclassified using the ESI without the “cancer” parameter to verify whether there would be any change in the classification. Cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of all cancer patients who sought immediate care at a private center in Brazil during a 6-month period was included in the study. After receiving care according to the institution’s standards, they were reclassified using the ESI scale without the “cancer” parameter. Times to receiving care and to reaching a diagnosis were recorded. In the study period, 360 patients were reclassified. They sought treatment for infection, pain, and gastrointestinal problems related to chemotherapy. The reclassification led to significant changes in the ESI risk level: 8.8% of the patients initially classified as level 4 had their level changed, as did 10.6% of those at level 3. The number of patients reclassified as level 1 was 3.2% higher than that of the initial classification (p < 0.001). There is a need to create a new scale for the classification of risk that takes the characteristics of patients receiving cancer treatment into account. Specific populations require specific classification scales for better evaluation of risk.