J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  1998 Mar;9(1):25-33.

A Development of Triage in the Emergency Department

• Seo KS
• Lee JH
• Kim JK
• Kam S
• Park JB
• Yun YK

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.

MeSH Terms

Adult
Body Temperature
Disasters
Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Heart Rate
Humans
Prospective Studies
Triage*
Vital Signs