Albanian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (Jul 2024)
Triage Prehospital EMS and Medical Care
Abstract
Introduction: Prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) are essential to emergency medical care. They provide emergency assessment and treatment for seriously ill or injured patients and transport them by ambulance to an emergency department. Adopting triage methods for systematically prioritizing patients according to how urgent patients need care, including Triage of requests for acute medical treatment, is a promising development in our healthcare system. In Kosovo, there is a gap between the effects of prehospital triage systems and the impact of using the same triage system in two or more EMS settings. In this quality improvement study, implementing the TT app intervention was associated with higher rates of inefficient Triage in prehospital settings. However, supporting EMS professionals in their decision-making by calculating the probability of an individual patient needing specialized care at the scene of injury is a new and promising approach to optimize Triage in the field. If we can fully realize the potential of this approach, it could significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our emergency medical care, leading to better patient outcomes. Standards and most health professionals need to be educated and trained in this critical component of EMS. Education, education, and training for the three levels of health care should be an obligatory component to enhance the quality of emergency medical care for children and adults at risk. It is high time to develop and test a conceptual triage scheme or model that will rely on a triage system that responds to the conditions of our health system. Develop clinical guidelines, algorithms, and triage protocols at the three levels of health care. All healthcare professionals must be educated and trained in ongoing coaching, communication courses, BLS AED, Pediatric, PHTLS, Adult Advanced Life Support, ATLS, and International Trauma Life Support. Conclusion: Triage is vital in optimizing patient outcomes in the high-pressure EMS world. It is the process of rapidly assessing a patient's condition to determine the urgency of care and the most appropriate destination for definitive treatment. Done effectively, prehospital Triage ensures that patients receive the right level of care at the right time, maximizing their chances of survival and minimizing long-term complications.
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