Triage in nonemergency services

Abstract

Triage systems are traditionally associated with emergency services, but are also commonly used in a much broader range of health care settings. This chapter explores some of the arguments for introducing triage systems, as well as some of the pitfalls associated with their use. Lessons from patient flow literature suggest that there may be better ways to make decisions about patient priority and to maintain throughput, without defaulting to long waiting lists and associated triage systems. These principles are demonstrated using a case study of an alternative model of triage that successfully reduced waiting time in a community rehabilitation program.