Triage & Emergency Services Flashcards
What is triage?
process of sorting injured people based on their need for immediate medical treatment as compared to their chance of benefiting from such care
Where is triage done?
emergency rooms, disasters, and wars, when limited medical resources must be allocated to maximize the number of survivors
Dentists in the military or disaster control are often used to…
triage thus freeing the medics to work critical care
What are white tags?
(dismiss) are given to those with minor injuries for whom a doctor’s care is not required
What are green tags?
(wait) are reserved for the “walking wounded” who will need medical care at some point, after more critical injuries have been treated
What are yellow tags?
(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
What are red tags?
(immediate) are used to label those who cannot survive without immediate treatment but who have a chance of survival
What are black tags?
(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 available
dentists are used to identify burned or other unidentifiable bodies for…
identification/legal purposes
It would be ideal to have every patient in your practice pursuing a strict & planned…
comprehensive dental program
Sometimes people are simply in NEED of ________
HELP
Why do you need to triage patients and remember more serious lifethreatening issues?
What IF they are actually having a Heart
attack, Diabetic crisis, Asthma attack etc. and only THINK they have a toothache ???
True/false
You COULD refer them to someone less busy; you don’t have to do it all. Just provide a path
true
How can you help someone who is in pain and wants results now?
- 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)
Don’t FORGET to appraise the PATIENT of THEIR Responsibilities such as…
- 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
The patient drives the bus, and they must be fully _________ and then they must make their decision regarding which option they wish for their TREATMENT
informed
What are complications to think about with patient’s consenting to treatment?
- 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 ____________ to avoid untoward/unreasonable options in presenting to the patient
responsible
The Professional must be responsible to avoid untoward or unreasonable options in presenting to the patient by asking what questions?
- is the tooth strategic and functional?
- is the tooth reasonably restorable?
- is there a periodontal situation which is compromsing?
- are there other questionable involvements?
- is the treatment reasonably available?
Is the tooth strategic and functional?
nah because there is no opposing teeth
Is the tooth strategic and functional?
yes because it allows for chewing surfaces and serves a big function
Is the tooth reasonably restorable?
there are fractures so extract
Is there a compromsing periodontal situtaion?
perforations and bone loss
Are there other questionable involvements?
fracture across the crown