Emergency departments triage systems

What is deemed to be a disaster for one facility may be routine operations for another facility. For example, a large emergency department with an annual volume of more than 100,000 patients per year may not commence disaster operations for the arrival of 10 trauma victims. However, such a number may be overwhelming and require disaster resources for the same number of victims in a smaller facility. Regardless of the size of the facility, each must have in place a system to recognize when the existing resources are likely to be exceeded and be able to implement disaster triage and operations at a moment s notice. 

A common algorithm that is used with adult prehospital triage is the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START). START was developed by the Newport Beach, California, Fire and Marine Department and Hoag Hospital. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers are very experienced in the use of the START system. The START system is easy to learn and simple to use. It is based on the person s ability to respond verbally and ambulate and their respirations, perfusion, and mental status (RPM). The system works as follows ... 

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