A review of the literature underpinning modern triage methodology is presented. The philosophy and history is described prior to a review of triage scoring methodology relevant to modern day practice. The importance of triage is most acute during major incidents and the triage process is highlighted within this framework. Triage has wide-ranging applications throughout medical practice and these are included as part of the discussion.
ACS Committee on trauma.1997. Advanced trauma life support for doctors, 6th edition American college of surgeons: Chicago, IL.
2.
Alejandro A., Lane P., Sorondo B.2003. System compliance with out-of-hospital truam atriage criteria . Journal of trauma, injury, infection and critical care54: 344—51.
3.
Amit G., Cafri C., Gilutz H., Ilia R., Zahger D.2007. Benefit of direct ambulance to coronary care admission of acute myocardial patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention . International journal of cardiology119: 355—58.
4.
Baker D., Cazalaa J., Carli P.2005. Larrey and Percy — a tale of two barons. Resuscitation66: 259—62.
5.
Bruce S., Legere P., Emhoff T., Viralto F., Garb J.1994. Vehicular trauma triage by mechanism: avoidance of the unproductive evaluation. Journal of trauma, injury, infection and critical care37: 645—49.
6.
Burris D., Welling D., Rich N.2004. Dominique Jean Larrey and the principles of humanity in warfare. Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
7.
Castille K., Cooke M.2003. One size does not fit all. View 2. Emergency medicine journal20: 120—22.
Champion H., Sacco w, Gainer P., Patow S.1988. The effect of medical direction on trauma triage. Journal of trauma28: 235—9.
10.
Choi Y., Wong T., Lau C.2006. Triage rapid initial assessment by doctor (TRIAD) improves waiting time and processing time of the emergency department. Emergency medicine journal23: 262—5.
11.
Clarke D., Brown AM, Hughes L., Motluk L.2006. Education to improve the triage of mental health patients in general hospital emergency departments. Accident and emergency nursing14: 210—18.
12.
Cooke M., Jinks S.1999. Does the Manchester triage system detect the critically ill?Journal of accident and emergency medicine16: 179—81.
13.
Davies G., Wilson M.2006. Pre-hospital care and triage in the UK. Surgery24: 190—3.
14.
Eaton C.2003. Essentials of immediate medical care, 2nd edition Churchill Livingstone: London.
15.
Fortin I.2007. Using volunteers at triage in the emergency department: one successful programme. Journal of emergency nursing32: 340—2.
16.
Giesen P., Moll van Chrante E., Mokkink H., Bindels P., van der Bosch W., Grol R.2007. Patients evaluate accessibility and nurse telephone consultations in out of hours GP care: determinants of a negative evaluation. Patient education and counselling65: 131—36.
17.
Greaves I., Porter K., Ryan J.2001. Trauma care manualArnold: London.
18.
Hodgetts T., Porter C.2002. Major incident medical management and support, 2nd edition BMJ Books: London.
19.
Iserson K., Moskop J.2007. Triage in medicine, part I: concept, history and types . Annals of emergency medicine49: 275—81.
20.
Jacques T., Harrison G., McLaws M., Kilborn G.2006. Sgns of critical conditions and emergency responses: a model for predicting adverse events in the in-patient setting. Resuscitation69: 175—83.
21.
Katz SJ, Moyer C., Stern D., David T.2003. Effect of a triage-based e-mail system on clinic resource use and a patient and physician satisfaction in primary care: a randomised controlled trial. Journal of general internal medicine18: 736—44.
22.
Kelly P.2003. Vietnam, 1968-1969: a place like no other. Neurosurgery52: 927—39.
23.
Knudson P., Frecceri C., DeLateur S.1988. Improving the field triage of major trauma victims. Journal of trauma28: 602—6.
24.
Lehmann R., Arthurs Z., Cuadroad D., Casey L., Beekley A., Martin M.2007. Trauma team activation: simple criteria safely reduce overtriage. American journal of surgery193: 630—5.
25.
Marsden A.1995. Gettimg the right ambulance to the right patient at the right time. Accident and emergency nursing3(4): 177—83.
26.
McSawin N., Frame S., Salomone J.2003. Pre-hospital trauma life support, 5th edition Mosby: St Louis.
27.
Micalowski W., Kersten M., Wilk S., Slowinski R.2007. Designing man-maching interactions for mobile clinical systems: MET triage support using palm handhelds. European journal of operational research177: 1409—17.
28.
Michael C.2007. A triage protocol for critical care during a pandemic . Journal of infection1—72.
29.
Mullholland S., Gabbe B., Cameron P.2005. Is paramedic judgement useful in prehospital trauma triage . Injury36: 1298—305.
30.
Munroe J., Nicholl J., O'Cathain A., Knowles E.2000. Impact of NHS Direct on demand for immediate care: observational study. BMJ321: 150—3.
31.
Noorwood S., McAuley C., Berne J., Vallina V., Creath R., Mclarthy J.2002. A prehospital Glasgow coma score ≤14 accurately predicts the need for full trauma team activation and patient hospitalization after motor vehicle collisions. Journal of trauma, injury, infection and critical care53: 503—7.
32.
Redmond A., Buxton N.1993. Consultant triage of minor cases in an accident and emergency department. Archives of emergency medicine10: 328—30.
33.
Rogers T., Ross N., Spooner D.2004. Evaultion of a see and treat pilot study introduced to an emergency department. Accident and Emergency Nursing12: 24—7.
34.
Rowlands A.2003. An evaluation of pre-hospital communication between ambulances and an accident and emergency department. Journal of telemedicine and telecare9: S35—7.
35.
Terregino C., Reid J., Marburger R., Leipold C., Ross S.1997. Secondary emergency department triage and trauma team activation: effects on resource utilization and patient care. Journal of trauma, injury, infection and critical care43: 61—4.
36.
Travers J., Lee F.2006. Avoiding prolonged waiting time during busy periods in the emergency department: is there a role for the senior emergency physician in triage?European journal of emergency medicine13: 342—8.
37.
Wallis L., Carley S.2006. Comparison of paediatric major incidenct primary triage tools. Emergency medicine journal23: 475—8.
