Triaging in Emergency Department

The Triaging in Emergency Department course offered by Emergency Health Solutions (EHS) is a specialized and critical training program designed for healthcare professionals working in, or aspiring to work in, high-volume and dynamic Emergency Department (ED) settings. This comprehensive program equips participants with the essential skills for rapid, accurate patient assessment and effective prioritization, ensuring that the most critically ill or injured patients receive timely and appropriate care.

Course Overview:

This course delves into the principles and practical application of standardized triage systems, with a particular focus on the South African Triage Scale (SATS) due to its proven effectiveness and relevance in resource-constrained environments, alongside comparisons with international systems like ATS, MTS, and ESI. The curriculum combines theoretical understanding with extensive practical exercises and scenario-based learning to build confidence and competence.

Key Learning Areas Include:

• Introduction to Emergency Triage: Understanding the fundamental principles, purpose, and global context of triage systems in preventing delays and improving patient flow.

• Overview of Triage Systems Worldwide: A comparative analysis of common 5-level triage systems such as the Australasian Triage Scale (ATS), Manchester Triage System (MTS), and Emergency Severity Index (ESI), highlighting their methodologies and benchmarks.

• The South African Triage Scale (SATS): In-depth exploration of SATS, its development for resource-limited settings, and its physiological and symptom-based approach.

  • SATS Categories (Urgency Levels): Detailed understanding of Red (Immediate), Orange (Very Urgent), Yellow (Urgent), Green (Routine), and Blue (Dead on Arrival) categories, including their target time-to-treatment.

  • Clinical Discriminator Signs: Identification of specific clinical findings and "Red flags" that automatically assign a priority category.

  • Triage Early Warning Score (TEWS): Comprehensive training on calculating and interpreting TEWS based on vital signs (Respiratory Rate, Heart Rate, Systolic Blood Pressure, Temperature, Level of Consciousness (AVPU), and Mobility), and how TEWS correlates with triage urgency.

  • Additional Investigations/Modifiers: Understanding quick ancillary checks (e.g., SpO2, blood glucose, pregnancy test) that may influence triage decisions.

  • Senior Healthcare Professional (SHCP) Discretion: Principles of overriding the algorithm in special circumstances.

• SATS Step-by-Step Triage Process: A practical, sequential guide to performing triage, from quick visual assessment to final priority assignment.

• Adult vs. Pediatric Triage Pathways in SATS: Recognizing crucial physiological and clinical differences in children and applying age-appropriate SATS charts and discriminators (including integration with WHO ETAT principles).

• Implementing SATS Triage in the Zimbabwean ED Context: Discussion of local challenges (high patient volumes, resource limitations, common disease patterns) and how SATS can be effectively adapted and integrated into Zimbabwean EDs.

• Case Studies and Practice Exercises: Application of SATS principles through realistic scenarios and drills to solidify decision-making skills.

Target Audience:

This course is essential for Registered Nurses, Doctors, Paramedics, Final-Year Student Nurses, and Medical Students who work in or intend to work in Emergency Departments.

Certification:

Upon successful completion of theoretical and practical assessments, participants will receive an EHS Certificate of Completion.

Equip yourself with the expertise to make rapid, life-saving decisions at the front lines of emergency care. Partner with EHS for specialized Triaging in Emergency Department training in Zimbabwe.