Patients treated by urgency category (2024)

FAQs

What is the triage category of urgent? ›

When a patient arrives at an emergency department, they are 'triaged' (assessed) for urgency and categorised on a scale from Triage Category 1 (requires resuscitation – immediate treatment) to Triage Category 5 (non-urgent – treatment within 2 hours).

The red triage category designates those patients who are likely to die if emergent treatment is delayed. Patients with a respiratory rate of > 30 per minute, altered perfusion, or decreased mental status are in need of immediate transport and stabilization.

Level 1 triage occurs at the point of injury. Level 2 triage occurs at the scene (or nearby) by the most experienced medical provider. Level 3 triage is performed to determine evacuation priorities.

Level 3 (urgent) includes patients who need quick attention but can wait as long as 30 minutes for assessment and treatment and includes patients with signs of infection, mild respiratory distress, or moderate pain. Levels 4 and 5 are considered “less urgent” and “non urgent,” respectively.

Red tag - immediate care is needed, life-threatening condition. Yellow tag - severe injuries or conditions exist that do require some immediate attention, but are not life-threatening. Green tag - attention due to injuries and conditions are required, but it does not need to be immediate; attention can wait.

Immediate or Priority 1 (red) evacuation by MEDEVAC if available or ambulance as they need advanced medical care at once or within one hour. These people are in critical condition and would die without immediate assistance.

Symptoms are assessed and the triage staff takes a medical history. Those with the most critical injuries or symptoms, such as patients with multiple traumas or those unconscious or not breathing, are first priority. These patients are seen immediately.

Level 4 | Semi-urgent

Someone with a medical condition that does not require an immediate response. Examples: Acute abdominal pain, thoracic pain, minor allergic reaction, etc.

What are examples of triage patients? ›

They are generally applied to patients who require immediate treatment or they will not survive. Examples include trauma victims, clients with chest pain, severe respiratory distress or cardiac arrest, limb amputation, acute neurological deficits.

The triage tags are color coded to indicate the priority and level of care. Red tags are first priority and considered immediate and critical. Yellow tags are second in priority which are delayed yet still urgent.

The ER cares for the sickest and most severely injured people first. If the nurse asks you to wait, let the nurse know if your symptoms or condition get worse. Once you are seen by the ER doctor, they may need to run more tests to determine your needs.

SEMI-URGENT: A result or finding, which can be unexpected or ambiguous, that does not pose an immediate health threat but has near-term severe health consequences if not acknowledged and/or treated.

Level 2- EMERGENT, for example, someone involved in a major accident with severe life threatening injuries. Level 3- URGENT, for example, someone with pneumonia and difficulty breathing. Leve l 4-LESS URGENT, for example, someone with an earache or a minor cut requiring stitches.

Resuscitation (triage category 1) is the most urgent category. It is for conditions that are immediately life threatening-such as heart attack, severe burns or injuries resulting from a motor vehicle accident. Patients in this category should be seen within 2 minutes of presenting to the emergency department.

There are 5 Triage Levels.

Level 3- URGENT, for example, someone with pneumonia and difficulty breathing. Leve l 4-LESS URGENT, for example, someone with an earache or a minor cut requiring stitches. Level 5- NON URGENT, for example, someone with minor symptoms or needing a prescription renewal.

The 3-level systems divide patients into the groups “emergent” (cannot safely wait until a space in the clinical area becomes available), “urgent” (can safely wait a short amount of time until a space in the clinical area becomes available), and “non-urgent” (can safely wait a long time until a space in the clinical ...

SEMI-URGENT: A result or finding, which can be unexpected or ambiguous, that does not pose an immediate health threat but has near-term severe health consequences if not acknowledged and/or treated.