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Development of Prehospital, Population-Based Triage-Management Protocols for Pandemics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Ingrid Bielajs ,
Frederick M. Burkle Jr. ,
Frank L. Archer  and
Erin Smith
Ingrid Bielajs*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Emergency Health & Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Frederick M. Burkle Jr.
Affiliation:
Department of Community Emergency Health & Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts USA
Frank L. Archer
Affiliation:
Department of Community Emergency Health & Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Erin Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Community Emergency Health & Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
*
Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic PracticeMonash Medical SchoolAlfred Lane, off Commerical RoadPrahan, Victoria 3181Australia E-mail: ingrid.bielajs@med.monash.edu.au
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Abstract

The lack of disease-specific triage-management protocols that address the unique aspects of a pandemic places emergency medical services, and specifically, emergency medical services practitioners, at great risk.Without adequate protocols, the emergency health system will risk needless exposure, loss of functional capacity, and inappropriately triaged patients.This paper reports on the development of population-based triage-management protocols at two patient points of contact. The primary objective of the triage-management protocols is to identify patients infected by or exposed to the biological agent, and consequently, appropriately triage patients so as to optimize the utilization of emergency medical services and surge capacity resources through disposition and care at hospital-and non-hospital-based care facilities. Protocols must include standardized “flu questions”and a Fear and Resiliency Checklist to ensure protection and separation of the susceptible population from those infected or exposed.

Keywords

disastersdisaster managementemergency medical servicesemergency operations centersincident command systempandemicsparamedicsprehospitaltriage
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 5 , October 2008 , pp. 420 - 430
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2008

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