the emergency severity index
questions and answers 2025
what is the definition of triage in medicine?
a practice invoked when acute care cannot be provided for
lack of resources
it rations care towards those who are most in need of
immediate care & who benefit most from it
prioritization of medical care as a whole
what is the purpose of triage in the emergency
department?
to prioritize incoming patients & to identify
who CANNOT wait to be seen
what is a triage acuity level?
measure of how long an individual can wait safely for a
medical screening exam & treatment
what is the emergency severity index (ESI)?
a 5 level emergency department triage algorithm
it provides clinically relevant stratification of putting
patients into one of the 5 groups from 1 (most urgent) to
5 (least urgent)
what is ESI based on?
the acuity of the patients health care problems &
the number of resources need
how does ESI differ from standardized triage algorithms
used throughout the world?
other algorithms attempt to divide patients based only on
the time they may safely wait
what was ESI developed around?
, a new research-based conceptual model of ED triage
Wuerz & Eitel believed that the principal role for an ED
triage was to facilitate the prioritization of patients based
on what?
the urgency of treatment for the patients conditions
In addition to asking what patient should be seen first,
what else should they do?
use the ESI to consider what resources are necessary to
move the patient to a final disposition
what are the 4 key Q's of the ESI algorithm that are critical
to its accuracy & reliability?
1. does this patient require immediate lifesaving
intervention?
2. is this a patient who should NOT WAIT?
3. how many resources will this patient need?
4. what are the patients vital signs?
what are the components that are needed for lifesaving
intervention to be considered?
airway emergency medications
hemodynamic interventions (IV access, supplemental
oxygen, monitor) ; EKG & labs do not count
intubated, apneic, pulseless, severe respiratory distress,
pulse ox <90%, AMS, unresponsive
questions and answers 2025
what is the definition of triage in medicine?
a practice invoked when acute care cannot be provided for
lack of resources
it rations care towards those who are most in need of
immediate care & who benefit most from it
prioritization of medical care as a whole
what is the purpose of triage in the emergency
department?
to prioritize incoming patients & to identify
who CANNOT wait to be seen
what is a triage acuity level?
measure of how long an individual can wait safely for a
medical screening exam & treatment
what is the emergency severity index (ESI)?
a 5 level emergency department triage algorithm
it provides clinically relevant stratification of putting
patients into one of the 5 groups from 1 (most urgent) to
5 (least urgent)
what is ESI based on?
the acuity of the patients health care problems &
the number of resources need
how does ESI differ from standardized triage algorithms
used throughout the world?
other algorithms attempt to divide patients based only on
the time they may safely wait
what was ESI developed around?
, a new research-based conceptual model of ED triage
Wuerz & Eitel believed that the principal role for an ED
triage was to facilitate the prioritization of patients based
on what?
the urgency of treatment for the patients conditions
In addition to asking what patient should be seen first,
what else should they do?
use the ESI to consider what resources are necessary to
move the patient to a final disposition
what are the 4 key Q's of the ESI algorithm that are critical
to its accuracy & reliability?
1. does this patient require immediate lifesaving
intervention?
2. is this a patient who should NOT WAIT?
3. how many resources will this patient need?
4. what are the patients vital signs?
what are the components that are needed for lifesaving
intervention to be considered?
airway emergency medications
hemodynamic interventions (IV access, supplemental
oxygen, monitor) ; EKG & labs do not count
intubated, apneic, pulseless, severe respiratory distress,
pulse ox <90%, AMS, unresponsive
