Triage is the process of evaluating and categorizing patients based on the severity of their health conditions to determine the priority of their need for medical treatment.
This method is most commonly employed in emergency departments, disaster scenes, or busy healthcare facilities, where medical staff must quickly assess which patients require immediate attention and which can wait for care. The primary goal of triage is to ensure that patients who are in the most critical condition receive prompt and appropriate medical intervention.
Triage is typically carried out by medical professionals, including emergency room staff at hospitals and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
Triage ensures the optimal use of medical resources by prioritizing care for patients based on the urgency of their conditions, thus facilitating timely treatment for those in critical need. This prioritization is crucial in emergency situations where it can save lives.
Moreover, triage helps streamline the flow of patients in busy or resource-limited settings, reducing wait times and preventing overcrowding.
Additionally, by focusing on medical necessity as the basis for care delivery, triage supports the principles of equity and fairness in healthcare access, ensuring that all patients are treated ethically and without bias.