A Development of Triage in the Emergency Department.
- Author:
Kang Suk SEO
;
Jeong Heon LEE
;
Jong Kun KIM
;
Sin KAM
;
Jeong Bae PARK
;
Young Kook YUN
- Publication Type:Original Article
- MeSH:
Adult;
Body Temperature;
Disasters;
Emergencies*;
Emergency Service, Hospital*;
Heart Rate;
Humans;
Prospective Studies;
Triage*;
Vital Signs
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
1998;9(1):25-33
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: To examine whether nonemergency patients can be identified and be safely triaged out of the emergency department. METHODS: Adult patients(16 years or older) who visited to the emergency department were prospectively studied from July 1 to August 31, 1997. Authors developed a new triage composed of vital signs, mental status, chief complaints, etiology, and a mode of transfer. Chi-square test and a discriminant analysis were applied for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In a discriminant analysis, mode of transfer, chief complaint, age, heart rate, mental status, etiology, and body temperature were significant variables in order. In a canonical discriminant value at group mean, a nonemergent value is 0.450 and a emergent value -0.219. CONCLUSIONS: In simply applicable triage method, mode of transfer and chief complaints are more important than vital sign and mental status. This method is useful in disaster situation and non-medical personnel may use this triage method easily. But some patients are not triaged by this triage method, thus more studies and discussions are necessary.
