triage/emergency Flashcards
- Triage is the process of:
- Triage is the process of sorting injured people based on their need for immediate medical treatment as compared to their chance of benefiting from such care
Triage is done in:
Triage is done in emergency rooms, disasters, and wars, when limited medical resources must be allocated to maximize the number of survivors.
triage tags
white
green
yellow
red
black
white tag
(dismiss) are given to those with minor injuries for whom a doctor’s care is not required.
green tag
(wait) are reserved for
the “walking wounded” who will
need medical care at some point,
after more critical injuries have
been treated.
yellow tag
(observation) for
those who require observation (and
possible later re-triage). Their condition is
stable for the moment and, they are not in
immediate danger of death. These victims
will still need hospital care and would be
treated immediately under normal
circumstances
red tag
(immediate) are used to label
those who cannot survive without
immediate treatment but who have a
chance of survival
black tag
(Expectant) are used for the
deceased and for those whose injuries are so
extensive that they will not be able to survive
given the care that is availabl
when would we triage
Dentists in the military or disaster control are often used to triage thus freeing the medics to work critical care.
ANY 1st RESPONDER NEEDS AND MUST USE THIS TRAINING.
Additionally, dentists are used to identify burned or other unidentifiable bodies for identification/legal puposes
controlling pt needs/desires?
what can you do?
YOU CAN’T CONTROL THE NEEDS/DESIRES OF PATIENTS
BUT: You DO need to perform a “type of TRIAGE” to determine their condition and Tx needs.
- It would be ideal to have every patient in your practice pursuing:
- It would be ideal to have every patient in your practice pursuing a strict &
planned comprehensive dental program.
1 priorty of pt health
systemic problems
complications of providing care
Life may have dealt you a whole bunch of problems which comprise multiple glowing embers any of which
can erupt into a raging emergency at any time. (You may have NO EMERGENCY FUND)
This may be one of those times and the last thing patient wants is advice or counseling:
Don’t Preach: Don’t Educate. . . “JUST STAMP OUT THE CURRENT FIRE”
You COULD refer them to someone less busy; you don’t have to do it all. Just provide a path
how can you help someone in emergency care
- You MUST START with a HEALTH HISTORY.
- You MUST START with a thorough & appropriate EXAMINATION/STUDIES
- You MUST PERFORM appropriate CLINICAL TESTING/RADIOGRAPHS
- You MUST develop an accurate DIAGNOSIS
- You MUST envision an appropriate TREATMENT PLAN (with OPTIONS)
deciding the care options available and explaining them to pts
- Present ALL OPTIONS in clearly understandable LANGUAGE
- Present the RISKS & BENEFITS in simple terms
- Don’t FORGET to appraise the PATIENT of THEIR Responsibilities
- Costs required for each option
- Time required for each option (availability of TX and # of visits, etc.)
- Maintenance required for each option
- Expected Prognosis and Longevity for each option
after explaining tx options to pts what occurs next
ONLY NOW CAN YOU ASK THE PATIENT TO BECOME INVOLVED in his/her treatment as regards their desires and expectations.
The patient drives the bus, and they must be fully informed and then they must make their decision regarding which option they wish for their TREATMENT
(if mentally capable)
BEWARE of some COMPLICATIONS w tx presentation
- The patient MUST UNDERSTAND (or no permission for Tx exists)
- The patient MUST HAVE reasonable expectations:
- The treatments must be professionally reasonable: The Professional must be responsible to avoid
untoward/unreasonable options in presenting to the
patient.