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Triage Protocols

Triage protocols are essential for effectively handling emergencies. Almost all physicians' offices, hospitals and communities--large and small--have established emergency procedures and often offer regular triage training for medical and civil employees. Standard triage protocols include: telephone triage, patient encounter triage and casualties.

  1. Telephone Triage

    • Implementation meetings should be held after developing a telephone triage system.

      Telephone triage protocol is important in determining who handles incoming calls and how they are directed to appropriate parties. Training for telephone triage should include educating operators on questions to be asked and how to record emergency information. In constructing a telephone triage system, setting up automated directory assistance should be considered. Once a unit has been developed, it is important to continually assess the system for efficiency and effectiveness.

    Patient Encounter Triage

    • A doctor's office protocol must include measures to keep patients calm.

      Patient-encounter triage protocols are essential for maintaining order in an overwhelmed doctor's office or emergency room. It is vital for emergency personnel to have access to essential paperwork for patients and for patients to complete the paperwork, if they are capable, as quickly as possible. According to the website PhysiciansNews.com, it is advisable for an office to have a procedure in place for patients who cannot complete important paperwork.

    Casualty Protocol

    • A plane crash or bombing will require the implementation of city or countywide triage protocols.

      In the event of a catastrophic event, such as a bombing, communities should have triage protocols in place. Triage staff must distinguish grades of casualties. In Sonoma County, California, for example, casualties are immediately divided into groups of those who can walk and those who cannot. According to the Sonoma County medical website, casualties also will be categorized depending upon the severity of injury: unsalvageable or dead, immediate or major injuries, and delayed or minor injuries.

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