Triage

Triage is a crucial concept in emergency medicine, applied in situations with high patient volume or limited resources to prioritize patients based on the severity of their conditions. The term is derived from the French word 'trier', meaning to sort or select.

Wounded Triage France WWI

Concept and Importance

The principal aim of triage is to identify which patients need immediate care, those who can wait, and those who might not benefit from immediate treatment. This system prevents unnecessary deaths and complications by ensuring the most critically ill or injured patients receive prompt attention.

Triage Levels and Systems

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Triage scales may vary based on the specific context but typically consist of three to five levels. For instance, the commonly used five-level Emergency Severity Index (ESI) ranges from level 1 (most urgent) to level 5 (least urgent).

There are various triage systems globally, including the Manchester Triage System (MTS), the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), and the Australasian Triage Scale (ATS), each with its unique criteria and standards.

Role of Health Professionals

Professionals conducting triage require robust training and experience to make quick, accurate assessments. They must rapidly evaluate a patient's condition based on visual and verbal cues and basic medical examination, such as vital signs.

Ethics in Triage

Triage involves ethical dilemmas, especially during mass casualty incidents or pandemics when resources are severely limited. Ethical guidelines, rooted in principles of justice, beneficence, and respect for autonomy, are essential in these challenging situations.

See Also

• Emergency medicine
• Mass casualty incident
• Medical ethics

References

Triage Resources
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