2. Goals of Triage
Canadian Paediatric Triage and Acuity Scale:
Implementation Guidelines for Emergency Departments
- To rapidly identify patients with urgent or life-threatening conditions.
- To determine the most appropriate treatment area for patients presenting to the ED.
- To decrease congestion in ED treatment areas.
- To provide a logical mechanism for ongoing patient assessment.
- To provide information to patients and families regarding expected care and waiting times.
- To provide reliable information defining department acuity.
Rapid access to health care provider assessment increases patient satisfaction and enhances public relations. An efficient triage system should reduce client anxiety and increase satisfaction by reducing waiting times and ED length of stay. Factors that influence triage design and operations include:
- number of patient visits
- number of patients requiring rapid interventions
- availability of health care providers in the ED treatment area
- availability of specialty resources
- environment, legal and administrative issues
- availability of community care resources
- computer system used for ADT (admit/discharge/transfer) and patient care.
Every ED needs a clear understanding of the population being served, the system capabilities, and the specific policies and procedures related to their triage system. It is important to recognize that, unless a rapid triage assessment is performed before registration, many time objectives may not be met. This is a system design and operational policy issue that must be considered.
