TRIAGE OF NON-EMERGENT PATIENT AND GUIDELINE FOR TRANSFER

Park, In Cheol; Lee, Kyeong Ryong; Goo, Hong Du; Kim, Seung Whan; Jang, Seok Joon; Shim, Ho Sik

J Korean Soc Emerg Med > Volume 6(2); 1995 > Article

Original Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 1995;6(2): 403-410.

TRIAGE OF NON-EMERGENT PATIENT AND GUIDELINE FOR TRANSFER

In Cheol Park, Kyeong Ryong Lee, Hong Du Goo, Seung Whan Kim, Seok Joon Jang, Ho Sik Shim

Department of Emergency Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine

Published online: December 31, 1995.

ABSTRACT

To reduce the degree of overcrowding in level III emergency care centers, authors have conducted a prospective study of patient who were transferred to level I or II emergency center based on the non-emergent patient guideline currently used at the Severance Hospital, level III emergency center, during the period of 65 days from Jan. 1st 1995 to Mar. 6th 1995. Followings are guideline for non-emergent patient described by the Korean government law: 1) systolic blood pressure greater than 80/100 of normal. 2) respiration rate between 10 to 24 per minute. 3) pulse rate between 60 to 100 per minute. 4) body temperature between 36 to 37.5℃ by rectal. 5) relatively alert mental status. 6) patient not requiring emergency operation at the time of examination. The results were as follows: 1. Among the total 5,301 patients, 464 patients ranged from age of 1 to 82 years old were transferred to level I or II emergency center after simple treatment. 2. Among the 464 patients, 276 patients were treated in expected hospital with medical problems in 101 (36.6%) patients, and 175 (63.4%) patients had surgical problems. 3. Among the 276 patients, 122 (44.2%) patients were admitted, 145 (52.9%) patients were discharged from the emergency room after adequate treatment. 4. Among the transferred patients, simple laceration (33.0%) were most common, acute gastroenteritis (12.0%), and simple contusion (10.5%) were followed. These results suggest that about 10% of patients visiting level Ill emergency care center, can be safely transferred to nearest level I or II emergency centers on the bases of non-emergent patient guideline described by Emergency Medical Service law. These guideline, if put into proper use, can reduce the degree of overcrowding problems in level Ill emergency care center through out the country.

Key words: Triage, Overcrowding, Non-emergent