Triage
Formal Definition
The process of prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition to determine the order of treatment.
How It's Used on the Ward
"What did triage say?" or "They were triaged as ESI 2" - initial severity assessment.
Example
""Patient was triaged as ESI-2: acute onset chest pain with diaphoresis. Roomed immediately, EKG within 5 minutes showed ST elevations.""
Clinical Context
ESI (Emergency Severity Index) goes from 1 (resuscitation) to 5 (non-urgent). Understanding triage helps you prioritize in the ED.
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