Patient Registration Workflow
Every patient walks: Registration → Triage → Vital signs → Unit allocation → Hand-off. ESI 1–2 cases skip the queue and notify the MO immediately. All other patients flow through in queue order with abnormal vitals auto-flagged in CCMS.
Scope
This workflow covers every walk-in patient from arrival at the registration counter until they are seated in a specific unit room for clinical assessment. It applies to all KKM CCMS facilities. Booked follow-up appointments and pre-scheduled procedures follow a separate workflow.
The 5 stages
Registration / verify identity
- Confirm full name, IC number, and MRN (if returning patient)
- Search CCMS by IC; if no record exists, create a new patient record
- Capture / verify contact number and current address
- Print and hand the patient a queue token (paper or QR-coded)
Triage — acuity classification
Use the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) 1–5 categories:
- ESI 1–2 — Immediate / Emergent: skip the queue → notify MO immediately. Examples: airway compromise, severe haemorrhage, suspected stroke/MI, altered mental status.
- ESI 3 — Urgent: priority slot within 30 min. Examples: moderate dyspnoea, persistent vomiting, severe pain.
- ESI 4–5 — Less urgent / Non-urgent: standard queue. Examples: stable chronic-disease follow-up, minor injury, prescription refill.
Document the ESI level in CCMS. The triage screen flags it visually to the clinical team.
Vital signs capture
Record directly in CCMS Vital Signs module — abnormal ranges auto-flag in red.
- Temperature (°C)
- Blood pressure (mmHg) — both arms on first visit or any cardiac complaint
- Pulse rate + rhythm (regular / irregular)
- Respiratory rate (per minute)
- SpO₂ (% on room air)
- Pain score (0–10 numeric scale)
- Weight (kg) — BMI auto-calculates if height present
- Height (cm) — required on first visit, then annually
- Random capillary glucose (mmol/L) — NCD follow-up only
Symptom-driven unit allocation
Based on the patient's chief complaint and any clinical alerts, allocate to the appropriate unit — see the decision matrix below.
Hand-off to the assigned unit
- Update the CCMS patient-location field → "In Unit X"
- Hand the physical token (or print a unit chit) to the unit nurse
- Verbally communicate any triage flags or abnormal vitals
- Time-stamp the hand-off in CCMS for audit + flow-time tracking
Unit allocation — decision matrix
Other units (radiology, lab, pharmacy) are downstream — allocated by the consulting MO, not at registration.
Critical safety notes
Any patient with airway compromise, severe haemorrhage, suspected stroke or MI, or altered mental status is immediate priority. Notify the on-call MO before completing routine vitals. Do not wait for queue position. Document the bypass with timestamps for clinical audit.
Single-reading hypertension or tachycardia is common immediately after queueing in a busy waiting area. Repeat blood pressure and pulse after 5 minutes of seated rest before flagging the MO. Document both readings in CCMS so the consulting clinician sees the trend.
If CCMS is unavailable during registration, switch to the paper-based registration form and queue-card system per the clinic's Business Continuity Plan. Backfill into CCMS as soon as the system is back online — backdate the registration timestamp to the actual arrival time.
