Critical Bytes - Triage - On Demand

Timely accurate triage is an essential aspect of any emergency situation or ED presentation. The Australasian Triage Scale utilises a 5 tiered scale providing a structured system of patient assessment and categorisation utilising a priority system of urgency. The principles of patient assessment and decision making based on this 5 tiered triage tool is well established as an efficient and safe process. But what happens when patients present with minimal signs of distress because they are physiologically compensating and end up being triaged incorrectly? How do we manage a mass trauma situation, or a full waiting room? Can the principles of triage be useful outside an ED or pre-hospital setting?

This critical byte will update you in the critical steps for triaging patients to ensure each patient receives the appropriate level of care in a timely maner.  Your ability to rapidly assess and assign the correct triage category in emergency situations including natural disasters, mass casualty events, urgent care or emergency care rooms will support safe patient care, and prioritisation of the effective and efficeint allocation of limited medical resources

A number of case presentations are presented to help you test your ability to effectively triage the many varied patients you may see.