How does the South African triage system work?
Understanding the international triage scales used in an emergency unit helps patients to be aware of how treatment is prioritised to save lives.
A serious medical emergency is stressful and traumatic, and it is important to receive quality care when you need it most, since this could mean the difference between life and death.
Emergency units are busy places, but Life Cosmos Hospital’s Emergency Unit have been organised to deliver effective emergency care. The emergency unit is staffed with medicine-trained doctors and nurses who are able to deal with various types of emergencies.
The initial emergency assessment is referred to as triage, which functions the same way it did before the pandemic to ensure a smooth process and to give the patients the appropriate treatment and help according to their needs.
Triage colours and times explained:
What is triage?
The word triage is derived from the French word “trier”, which means “to sort”. Triage colour-coding is the most effective way to bring the greatest good to the most patients and save people’s lives. Staff members use this system to prioritise treatment, based on the resources of the unit and in order of urgency – the end result is that the person with the greatest need is helped first.
Triage is effected by using clinical scoring systems, and then patients are allocated time specific triage colour-code categories.
The medical triage colours are an internationally recognised system of treatment that applies to each patient entering the emergency unit. Everyone is assessed using the same triage scale, irrespective of funding capability or type of emergency.
The assessment usually takes no more than one minute. It is important that triage protocols are followed to assist the doctors and nurses to do their work effectively.
Why do waiting times differ if it is an emergency?
It’s understandable that people become anxious in an emergency. They might be concerned that they or their family member would not be attended to quickly enough, so hospital staff always do their best to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
Injuries and illnesses vary in severity and it is important to ensure that a serious condition doesn’t worsen in the emergency unit. The South African triage scale is an effective scientific tool to ensure that the most serious illnesses and injuries are attended to with the appropriate urgency.
It is also important to remember that emergency units experience peak times and, as a result, waiting times could be longer when there are many patients to see and assess.
Once a doctor has seen the patient, they could recommend one of the following:
• discharge with medication and/or a referral to a specialist
• admission for further treatment or tests
• transfer to a facility where the patient can receive more appropriate treatment.
Life Cosmos Hospital’s Emergency Unit’s doctors, experienced nursing staff and specialists are available to ensure every patient receives the best emergency care and it remain open at all times.
You can contact the emergency unit on 013 653 8002 or contact christelle.matthee@lifehealthcare.co.za for more information.
