DPT 8.0
Hospital Triage
•Use a triage system in an MCI that parallels normal routine
•Practice regularly to ensure familiarity
•Triage is a continual process
•Re-triage all victims
transported by EMS
•Set up triage area near the
ED entrance
–Shielded and secure
–Readily accessible
HOSPITAL TRIAGE

Hospital triage is performed daily in the ED.  Although patients may not be formally “tagged,” they are still assessed and categorized as to their need for emergency care.  Multiple trauma patients, or those confused or complaining of chest pain or shortness of breath, are usually seen immediately (red tag).  The medical care provided to those with less critical injuries or complaints is typically delayed (yellow tag) and provided on a first come, first serve basis.  These same principles of triage apply to a mass casualty event, but the volume of patients will obviously be greater and the need for additional support will be heightened.  Implementing a familiar, quick, and efficient triage system that will allow hospital personnel to quickly process the increased volume of patients is essential.  This will hopefully avoid relocating the disaster to the hospital.

Triage during an MCI is a continuum from the incident scene to the hospital with constant reassessment of patients, as resources permit.  Re-triage at the hospital should occur because the victim’s medical status may have changed, the priority for treatment may be different from that afforded at the scene, or the triage tag may have become unreadable, detached, or may not conform with the hospital’s tagging system.