Triage and Treatment Process - Emergency Department

Triage and Treatment Process - Emergency Department

Definition: Emergency department triage is a quick process used to prioritize patients based on how severe their medical conditions are, ensuring the most critical cases get immediate attention.

After a brief assessment by a trained professional, patients are assigned a priority level that determines their order for treatment; however, some diagnostic tests may commence immediately.

Source Triage and Treatment Process - Emergency Department Visualization: Netcare Hospitals, South Africa

The triage process consists of the following steps:

1. Arrival and initial assessment: Upon arrival, an emergency technician or registered nurse performs a quick evaluation. They may ask about your symptoms, medical history, and vital signs.
2. Prioritization: The triage nurse assigns a priority level, typically on a scale of 1 to 5, with one being the most critical and five being the least urgent. This determines the order in which patients will be seen.
3. Patient example and waiting: A patient with a life-threatening condition (Level 1) will receive immediate intervention, while a patient with a non-urgent issue (Level 5) will wait longer for treatment.
4. Treatment begins: Based on the patient's acuity level, they are directed to the appropriate treatment area. In some cases, the triage nurse may initiate some diagnostic tests to save time.

Important note: If your condition worsens while you are waiting, please notify the triage staff immediately.