Triage System in ED

[Hooch]

Quick question - do most ED's have triage policies and protocols in place to guide practice - and would the policy identify the locations where triage would be sited ie, majors and minors? How many triage areas are there in the unit that you work in, and were are they sited ie, is there one in major and a separate one for minors? Have any of you's ever come across two in majors? Would you consider it best practice for one nurse to be responsible for triaging arriving ambulances with the walk-in wounded together in a major trauma centre? I never worked in ED - so hence all the questions.

[Robublind]

Got a paper to write?

[Hooch]

You probably thought I was being smart - no I don't have a paper to write - it's just that I am trying to understand how triage operates in ED - and if there'd be a policy and protocol to guide practice. I no longer practice at the coldface (health law is more my thing) - and I never worked in ED before.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Yes most places do have policies for triage and treatment criteria. Some are more specific than others.

You may find this helpful.....

The Emergency Severity Index (ESI) is a five-level emergency department (ED) triage algorithm that provides clinically relevant stratification of patients into five groups from 1 (most urgent) to 5 (least urgent) on the basis of acuity and resource needs. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) funded initial work on the ESI.

Select to download the Implementation Handbook.

Emergency Severity Index, Version 4: Implementation Handbook and DVDs[TABLE]

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[Hooch]

Yes most places do have policies for triage and treatment criteria. Some are more specific than others.

You may find this helpful.....Emergency Severity Index, Version 4: Implementation Handbook and DVDs[TABLE]

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Thank you - much appreciated.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

YOU are very welcome.